VISIT TO N.Z. FORCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 126, 29 May 1944, Page 4

VISIT TO N.Z. FORCES

MR. FRASER IN ITALY A CALL aFgIBRALTAR • Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F. Naples, May 21 Mr. Fraser has arrived in Italy bj air, after a fast and uneventful jour ney from England. He has come tc meet officers and men of the Seconc New Zealand Division and to discuss at first hand with General Freyberg and his staff the part the Division has played in recent operations and its role in the present Allied offensive. The party includes General Puttick, G.O.C. and C.G.S., New Zealand Military Forces, his aide, Major G. Crossley. and Mr. A. D. Mclntosh, secretary r cf the New Zealand War Cabinet. The American military attache in New Zealand has also accompanied Mr. Fraser in order to make personal contact with the Division. He has already spent a good deal of time with the Third New Zealand Division during its operations in the Solomons. Mr. Fraser was met at the airfield by General Feryberg and Brigadier w. G. Stevens. While General Freyberg waited for Mr. Fraser’s plane to arrive, fighter-bomber and bomber aircraft were taking off from the airfield at reguiar intervals on forays • ©gainst th? German forces retreating along the road Io Rome. In the course of the journey the party made a stop at Gibraltar, where they met the Governor. Lieutenant-General Eastwood. Before continuing the light they were conducted at the Governor’s invitation to the top of the famous Rock and shown some of the hidden strength of the groat fortress in the honeycomb of tunnels cut out of solid stone. Flying through clear and sunny weather into the central Mediterranean area, Mr. Fraser and his partv were able to see the scenes of some cf the battles of the North African campaign, including Tunis and Cap" Bon. Approaching Italy, Mr. Fraser spent some time in the co-pilot's seat alongside Squadron-Leader Charleg Wills, R.A.F., captain of thc plane.