NETHERLANDS LEGION

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3764, 30 September 1940, Page 2

NETHERLANDS LEGION

DUTCH ARMY EXPANDING RECRUITS IN ENGLAND The expansion of the Netherlands Legion in this country proceeds apace, states an English writer. All Dutchmen in Great Britain between the ages of twenty and thirtyfive have been medically examined, and recruits are going to camp. Arms have been bought by the Netherlands Government, and there are more than sufficient Dutch officers and n.c.o.s available for training the recruits. Later a mechanised corps is to be formed, and an artillery unit.

The experienced Dutch soldiers who succeeded in escaping to England after the capitulation of the army in the Netherlands are already actively engaged in military duties together with British troops. They are keeping watch on a stretch of coast-line and are guarding a number of aerodromes. The main Dutch camp is now completely run by Dutchmen. A British liaison-officer and his telephonist are the only "foreigners" in this Dutch community. The morale of the soldiers, already good, is improving as a result of generous gifts from Dutchmen in England to their compatriots under canvas. Gramophones, wireless sets and games have been sent to the camp, instruments for a band have been bought, and the cooking of the food by Dutch cooks is very much appreciated by the men. Their main grievance is that they have so far not yet had the opportunity of meeting the enemy for the second time. The Dutch Home Fleet has been* more fortunate in that respect. A's is known, the great majority of the units of the Dutch Navy sailed for British harbours after the collapse of the resistance in the Mother Country, and the process of reorganisation was completed some weeks ago. Dutch units took an active part in the evacuation of the B.E.F. from Dunkirk, with slight loss, and have since been in contact with the enemy on several occasions. They sail under British orders, and have a British liaison-officer and signalmen on board. The task of the Dutch Home Fleet is exactly the same as that of the British Navy, and the Dutch sailors have already shown that they do not want to be considered inferior to their British allies. It will be remembered that Mr Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, has mentioned that he sent a signal to the Dutch Admiralty on the occasion of a particularly brilliant and daring piece of seamanship by Dutch naval units, and other proofs of appreciation by highly placed authorities at the British Admiralty have been received. • The action of the Dutch Home Fleet, which has been entrusted with hazardous tasks, has not been possible without some loss, but this will be speedily made up for by the completion of several vessels under construction, which have been towed from Dutch harbours to British ports with their full complement on board. It has been found possible to provide the Dutch units with ammunition for their guns, as some German bombers have already found out. The Dutch Air Force has been as active as the Navy. Dutch crews and their planes have been drafted into the British Coastal Command, and they have done well. There, too, some loss has been sustained, but not in comparison with the expansion of the service.