THE TASK AHEAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24672, 30 July 1941, Page 4

THE TASK AHEAD

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION PREPARING TO MEET FOE REPLY TO DOMINION MESSAGES (0.C.) WELLINGTON, July 29. " Confident in our cause and in ourselves, and strengthened now by the support of those at home, the New j Zealand Division is preparing to meet; the enemy again," states a cable message from Major-general B. C. Frey-1 berg, general officer commanding the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which was received to-day by the Acting Prime Minister. General Freyberg's message, which was in reply to a motion adopted by both Houses of Parliament last month, was read to the House of Representatives to-night by Mr Nash. It read as follows: — Valour of Maori and Pakeha The most generous and inspiring motion adopted by both Houses of Parliament has been published to the New Zealand Division. Would you please convey to both Houses our grateful thanks for-the motion, the terms of which are deeply appreciated by all ranks. Would you please convey my respectful duty to the General Assembly and say how proud I am as commander of the New Zealand Division in the knowledge that your tribute to the valour of Maori and pakeha on the battlefields of Greece and Crete is deserved by all ranks. We hope to achieve a record as honourable as that of the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force. May I also pay tribute to our gallant •comrades who have fallen, and would you convey to the people of New Zealand who are sorrowing our deepest sympathy. May I thank Parliament, also, for its personal message of confidence. I will endeavour to deserve it. We have been through ordeals and grim days and there may be other grim ones ahead, but we have no doubt of the ultimate success of our cause. Again our most grateful thanks. Kia Ora, Katoa." Replying" to the message sent on June 2 expressing the Dominion's sincere thanks for his magnificent work in Crete. Major-general Freyberg has replied:— Grim Days in Crete " I am very distressed to find that I have not. acknowledged ypur.message of June 2, which was overlooked in that time of anxiety.and reorganisation. Mr Fraser read the message to us on parade here, and I need hardly say how deeply touched we were by its warm sincerity. All were then in an advanced state of exhaustion. We had been from May 25 to May 30 without sleep and in a state of grave anxiety. Our office organisation in the division was non-existent and in moving back to Helwan the written message was lost. In searching through a Middle East cypher message for the purposes of writing a despatch on Crete the message was found. As you kn0w,..1. have always tried to.answer correspondence wM despatch. .; "Will you, if possible at this late hour, if you think it advisable, explain our difficulties and say how grateful we all were to the Government and the people of New Zealand for their unfailing support and kindness, and j say also that I personally will try to deserve some of the confidence placed ! in me." -■