LORD MONTGOMERY EXTOLS BRITISH SOLDIER

Chronicle (Levin), 20 July 1946, Page 5

LORD MONTGOMERY EXTOLS BRITISH SOLDIER

| Rppoivcd Friday, 7 p.m. j LONDON, July 18. Field Nlarslial, Sir Bornard Montgomory, iu a spoecli at a | Mtmsion ILousc lunclieon al'leL' rccciving the J'reedom oi' the Oity j oi' J jOiidoit, rcvealed wliy he gave ti dinuer to the Afrika Corps i eommaiider, von Thoma, in liis field mess al'ter capturiiig him t duriug Ihe Alainein haltle, thereby provoking some criticism at thc finie. lle said: "l gnt I'roni Thoma certain inl'ormalion about the rnilitfiry mefhods of Rommel, his commander. that stood ino in good stead in later hatlles and which unquesf ionably saved many British livos. " Bir Bernard iroiitgomcry addod that hc always had photogrtiphs oi' Ivommcl, Kcssclring, Rundstedt and others in his earavan. "I used 1o study tlie pliotographs oi' my oppoueut at the tinie and try to get into his brain," he added. . Sir Bornard paid a trilmte to the Fritish soldier saying much rightly had been heard of great deeds oi' the Kmpire hrothers and Allied I'riends, "hui the unconquerable figure oi' the British soldier who bore the hcaviest hui'den oi the war, carried us to victory. His eharaeteristies were indepeudeuce, ilidomitable good hifmour and toleranee. He has an immense capacity to adapt himseli' to the unexpected. Ile is a roekiike figure in battie and rel'uses to be carried away by temporary stresses. He has an -i n ward checrt'ulness which enabies him to laugii at discomfort and niock danger. His spirit enabled us to ovcrcome all carly reverses and win the last battie."