DOMINION TROOPS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22785, 8 January 1944, Page 4

DOMINION TROOPS

Popular In Italian Village NEW ZEALANDER AS TOWN MAJOR From the Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F. DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS, January 4. There is a small compact village a few miles from the front line, inhabited largely- by New Zealanders, which could almost be called their own village, for the Town Major is a New Zealander and the troops are outnumbered bv the many Italian people one sees in the streets. There are narrow, flag-stoned streets, which wind over and round the hilltop on which sits the main part of the village. As with nearly all the Italian villages, the church is the most impressive building, but it has several others, which for the size of the place are remarkably good. The houses are of concrete or stone built right on the street. Most of them are old two-storeyed places with narrow balconies, where, on fine days, the women sit placidly knitting while the buildings tremble with the blast of nearby guns and the thunder of heavy military traffic. Many people left the village when it was under bombardment. The evacuated houses have become a welcome refuge from rain and snow for units stationed there, and for troops enjoying a well-earned rest from the line.

Villagers Friendly The villagers are friendly to our men. This morning I visited an officer who had been out of the line for a few days and who was returning this afternoon. He had been living in a large, clean back room where the Italian to whom the house belonged had provided a comfortable bed with snow-white sheets. They brought him hot water in the mornings, he told me, and swept and tidied the room, asking nothing in return.

In this village is a school and the smallest of theatres with a complete stage, balcony and pit. The theatre is being used now by the Y.M.C.A. cinema unit, which screens as many as four shows daily of the new releases which it has been able to acquire. The same unit has shown pictures to the troops actually in the front line by setting up its plant in nearby houses. The Y.M.C.A. unit has played as big a part here as elsewhere in making life more bearable for units in and near the village by providing tea, biscuits and other comforts.

The soldiers have their greatest popularity with the children, particularly about 40 who are in an orphanage among buildings occupied by the troops. They had, what was for them, a royal Christmas when the New Zealanders were provided with more than they could eat. The balance was given to the children, and was the greatest Christmas treat of their lives.

The behaviour of the New Zealand troops has been much appreciated by the people of the villages, who for many weeks had the Germans in their midst.