GENERAL FREYBERG

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25277, 14 July 1943, Page 2

GENERAL FREYBERG

VISIT TO MELBOURNE TRIBUTE TO A.I.F. TROOPS MELBOURNE, July 13. Lieutenant-general Sir Bernard Freyberg arrived on a brief visit Jto Melbourne to-day, and was welcomed by high-ranking Australian officers. He „was accompanied by Mr C. A. Berendsen (New Zealand -High Commissioner). General Freyberg, who was interviewed, spoke of Australian and New Zealand comradeship, which, he said, began at Gallipoli. The spirit that had made Australia and New Zealand one at Anzac was renewed in another generation to-day. He added: “ I would emphasise that they fight side by side to-day, not merely as allies of sister dominions, but as brothers. We have never looked on General Sir Iven Mackay and General Sir Leslie Morshead as exclusively your leaders. We made them ours, and any New Zealander would have been proud to serve under them. The New Zealanders were proud to have the Ninth Division alongside whenever tough fighting was to be done.” In a leader on General Freyberg s visit the Melbourne Herald said: “ New Zealand gave willingly of her few, and whatever wider strategical considerations there may have been she demonstrated the profound depth of her faith by holding her finest troops in the Middle East while confronted with an imminent menace at home. The Australians who fought beside the New Zealanders in . the desert envied them the opportunity of thrusting on to Tunisia with the Eighth Army while the fortunes of war sent the A.I.F. into the jungles of New Guinea. But they and the New Zealand people can rejoice in the well-won honours of the New Zealanders, whose brave leader symbolises their fighting qualities.” General Freyberg attended a meeting of the Federal Cabinet yesterday at the invitation of Mr Curtin. He also conferred with General Sir Thomas Blarney. While in Melbourne General Freyberg was the guest of the Governor, Sir Winston Dugan, at Government House.