PRAISE FOR GREEK PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 25691, 28 June 1943, Page 4

PRAISE FOR GREEK PEOPLE

N.Z. Food Ship Plan Supported

That the Battle of Britain was the most vital period and perhaps the greatest crisis in England’s history was emphasized by the commander of the 2nd Division of the N.Z.E.F., LieutenantGeneral Sir Bernard Freyberg, in a broadcast speech last night. At the height of the Battle of Britain, the arrival of the Canadians and the New Zealanders was a great comfort to the people of Great Britain, he said. He had never seen such determination on the part of the people who had set an example to the rest of the world. General Freyberg paid a sincere tribute to the people of Greece. The New Zealanders who fought in Greece would always have the greatest respect for the courage and devotion of the people of Greece. The defeat of the Italians in Albania by the Greek forces was the first reverse to be suffered by the Axis in this war. The New Zealand forces went to the help of Grece, but were driven from their country. The Greek nation would always have a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders. The Prime Minister had expressed the hope that the first ship to enter Piraeus, the port of Athens at the end of the war would be a New Zealand ship laden with food. It was to be hoped that this wish would materialize.

In the Middle New Zealand officers and non-commissioned officers had always assisted in the training of the Greek soldiers and the Greeks had always been welcome at the New Zealand clubs.

Yesterday was the anniversary of the battle of Minqar Qaim. On June 22 a year ago the New Zealand Forces went out and took up a defensive position on the escarpment to the south of Mersa Matruh. The troops had been shelled all day and five separate attacks by the infantry and armour of the enemy had been repulsed. It was the gallant stand by the New Zealanders at this point that temporarily stopped Rommel’s advance on Alexandria. The General praised the work of New Zealand nurses in the Middle East and emphasized the necessity for “the feminine touch” among the wounded. He was glad that the nurses of the New Zealand wounded wore skirts and not battledress. The wonderful work which had been done by women would not be overlooked.