“GRIM FIGHTING AHEAD”

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22620, 28 June 1943, Page 4

“GRIM FIGHTING AHEAD”

Another Warning Issued I Talk By General Freyberg “(him fighting lies ahead and we ! must be prepared for it.” declared I Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., when, during a broadcast talk last evening, he again issued a warning against the spirit of optimism which prevailed. An appeal for support of the Third Liberty Loan was made by General Freyberg. and a tribute to the peoples of Greece and England was paid by him. Emphasising the importance of saving money at the present time, Lieut.-General Freyberg said that everyone realised the importance of buying war bonds. The best investment for money was in the Third Liberty Loan and he was anxious to encourage contributions. He would advise members of the Second N.Z.E.F. to co-operate in this direction. Commenting on the spirit of optimism which prevailed, General Freyberg said there was a belief that the Axis was disintegrating and that the war in Europe was approaching an end. Although there were reason for optimism he must deliver a warning. The German Army was still formidable. It was well supplied and maintained and it could take heavy punishment before it collapsed. He referred his listeners to the map of Europe and reminded them of the difficult and costly amphibious operations which would be necessary before a landing on the Continent could be effected. The Allies must be prepared for a more different campaign to the one completed in North Africa. "The whole resources of the country must be committed to the welfare of the war.” continued General Freyberg. “Those who cannot fight can lend money for the provision of weapons of war.” He mentioned the energies and equipment necessary on the eastern front in Russia and on the new front, or fronts in Europe, adding that the efforts of the United Nations would have to be increased for the necessary momentum to defeat Germany and Japan.

Changes of To-morrow "To-day we have good equipment, but that is not enough,” he said. “For a long time the Germans possessed superior equipment, and while we have the best to-day, we may not to-morrow. Who knows what the Axis will have to-morrow? At the moment they will be striving for superiority. “I know what the men from New Zealand are doing overseas, in the Navy, Army and Air Force,” General Freyberg continued. “New Zealand’s contribution to the war has been a great one.” He also realised what had been done in production, in primary production and the war industries. He knew that the country would make a great effort in the future and he knew that the Third Liberty Loan, like its predecessors, would be oversubscribed.’ Recalling the crisis in England in 1940 and the arrival of the Second Echelon from New Zealand together with the men from the other Dominions, General Freyberg said that the presence of the colonial troops had been a great comfort to the people of England during what was perhaps, the greatest crisis in their history. During that period the spirit of the people ot Great Britain had been an inspiration to the rest of the world. He had never seen greater determination. “We who have fought in many lands said to ourselves then, ‘Here is a land worth defending’.” declared the General. He would always remember how they had stood in the front line on the shores of the Channel ready to defend their England. Honours went to the Royal Air Force and each day he saw them meet and smash the Luftwaffe. England was in grave peril then for she had little or no equipment.

A Different England When he was in England three weeks ago he witnessed the vast change that had taken place, said General Freyberg. There was plenty of equipment now and every spare area of land had been turned into a flying field. He had been present at a gathering during “Wings for Victory” Week when a great bomber was on display in Trafalgar Square. “New Zealanders who fought m Greece and Crete will always have the greatest admiration for the people they met there.” the General continued? “We went to their help and we were driven from their country by the invader, but they felt only gratitude toward us. Some of our men who were left behind hid in the hills and were helped by the Greeks to escape.” He told of the old men and women who with the children worked on the roads in snowstorms so that equipment could be moved. The Greeks looked forward to the day when their freedom would be restored to them. They had a special place in the hearts of the men of the Second N.Z.E.F. and he hoped that the wish of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) —that the first first relief ship to enter the freed port of Athens would be one from New Zealand —would come true. The Greeks raised another army in Egypt which took its place in the line. New Zealanders helped to train the Greeks and many Greek officers passed through the training schools at Maadi. They were always welcomed in the club's. Minqar Qaim Recalled “To-day is June 27. the first anniversary of the battle at Minqar Qaim, our first engagement after our dash from Syria,” said General Freyberg. “On June 22 we took up defensive positions on the escarpment south of Mersa Mathruh and on the next morning the Axis bumped into us. Five attacks were repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. We switched our 77 m.m. field guns from front to front but at night we were surrounded.” He recalled the bayonet charge in the silent night and the following withdrawal. and how amid streams cf tracer-bullets the transports dashed through at full speed. That engagement stopped Rommel’s advance on Alexandria for 24 hours and would always be remembered. A word to the women in battledress in the Dominion was given by General Freyberg. When he had said that he was glad the nurses in the Middle East had not discarded their skirts for battledress, he was emphasising the value of the feminine touch. To those woman in New Zealand he would say that battledress was the only sensible attire. He knew the wonderful work they were doing and he wished that he could have more of them with him.

General Freyberg concluded with a few personal words to his old friends, explaining that it was impossible for him to call on them all during his present visit. To his old school he made a special apology, for he realised the value of the bond with his school. It was one of the most important bonds of his life.