FASTEST UNIT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 102, 25 January 1943, Page 5

FASTEST UNIT

N.Z.E.F.’s Entry Into Tripoli CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) With the New Zealanders now in TRIPOLI, January 23. They have covered a distance of more than the length of New Zealand in the Eighth Army’s race from the El Alamein line. They have travelled faster than any other troops —they covered greater distances with their brilliant southern sweep than any of General Montgomery’s other units, and still tliey were among the first into Tripoli. The New Zealanders’ part in the Eighth Army’s brilliantly conceived and relentlessly executed offensive has been throughout one the greatest importance. From the -time the New Zealanders played sueh_.a vital part in the cracking of RommeVs El Alamein line they have fortunately not been engaged in any except, minor battles, and they continued their relentless pursuit of the fleeing Axis troops. Once General Montgomery decided to launch his attack on the Buerat defences—the last offensive which threw Rommel from Tripolitania—the New Zealanders were again in this last and vital advance. With the British armour and with their own divisional cavalry, tliey surged ahead, and nothing, could stop them. Comparative Paradise. And now they are there in Tripoli—the Tripoli which has been one of the main objectives of the Middle East Command for so long. The New Zealanders are now in country which is like a paradise compared with the desert wastes of Cyrenaica and the wilderness of Tripolitania, in which during the past 80 days they bad been forging ahead. Since they entered the rich, cultivated coastal belt below Misurata our troops have seen ample evidence of the care which was bestowed by the Italians on the showpiece of their North African empire. They have been welcomed both by the Italian colonists and the Arabs, whose clean-looking villages against'a setting ot great olive groves dot the countryside. An occasional embarrassed Fascist salute is in strong contrast to the courteous Arab greeting of “snyeda.” Within hours au eager trade was going on, eggs and vegetables beiug bartered for tea ami sugar. The New Zealand airmen who are scattered over the fighter ami bomber squadrons of the Middle East air forces and in torpedo-carrying aircraft have contributed their part in the remorseless efforts of our ground forces, while New Zealanders in the navy have partaken in the Mediterranean Fleet's magnificent combined offensive. City Proper Undamaged. Tripoli, which had a pre-war population of well over 100,000, of whom 25,000 were Italians was damaged'to some extent by the Allied air raids, which were directed mainly at the harbour and the storage centres round the town, but the town itself has been undamaged for the reason that there were no military targets in the town itself. The New Zealand troops, who have fought so loug ami so bard in the desert campaigns, are thrilled to be among the first t,o enter blatant Mussolini’s treasured Tripoli. There is an amusing story told of a New Zealand sentry who a fortnight ago had a yarn with LieutenantGeneral Freyberg. “How are things going?” asked the general. The sentry looked glum.

"Fair,” he replied. “Don’t worry. We’ll be in Tripoli on about the 25th,” said General Freyberg. The sentry reflected. “No, that won’t do, sir,” the sentry said.

“Why?” asked General Freyberg. “It’s my birthday on the 22nd,” answered the sentry. “We'll see what w.e can do,” promised the general with a smile. And the sentry saw the Union Jack flying over Tripoli on the 22nd.