THE MAORI AS A FIGHTER

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15233, 24 December 1942, Page 4

THE MAORI AS A FIGHTER

ROMMEL’S VIEWS LONDON. Field-Marshal -Rommel, Comma nder-in-Chief of the Axis-forces in Egypt, who has been visiting Berlin, was in a boastful mood when he met German leporters. “We are 60 miles from Cairo and Alexandria,” he said. “The gateway of Egypt is v. ithin our grasp. Our intention is to act. “Our German soldiers fight stubbornly and courageously,” Rommel added. “When, not long ago, I reported to Mussolini on the position in North Africa I was in a position to tell him that the co-operation between the German and Italian authorities was exemplary in every respect.” Asked about the quality of American war material, Rommel said: “American tanks are of no real importance. They a,re badly built, badly armour-plated and proved worthless. The new American tanks are a much better weapon, but they are all lying behind our lines.” Of the British as desert fighters, Rommel said: “The English have the illusion that they are th e only good desert fighters. They certainly have more experience than we have. But the first clash revealed that our troops were not inferior and could stand up to them. “It happens sometimes that Maoris break into an advanced position and kill every one they come across. Such methods must be answered by bard methods. On this point Germans and Italians are agreed.”