NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 10, 7 October 1943, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

It is doubtful whether any previous Victoria Cross investiture has taken place in such unusual and colourful circumstances as those attending the presentation of the greatest of British military awards to the father of the late Lieutenant Ngarimu. The pageanj), as described in this morning’s news columns, held a threefold symbolism. First and foremost it honoured the memory of a New Zealander who gave his life performing in the midst of battle a role of breath-taking valour. Secondly, it gave opportunity for appreciation of the splendid active service record ot the Maori Battalion, the members of which, both individually and collectively, have earned special distinction. Thirdly, the ceremonial at Ruatoria enabled leading representatives of the pakeha to express once again the community’s recognition of the proud and spirited manner in which the Maori people are sharing the burdens of the conflict its sacrifices, triumphs and bitter-sweet memories.

If the Nazis are forcibly removing disarmed Italian divisions from the Balkan countries to Germany, where they will add to the already ■huge army of forced labour, then what has been termed the great trewill, when the time comes,, be larger than ever. There are millions of aliens in Germany, some estimates make the ratio one m four of a workers in German factories, who have been compelled to go there and help the war effort. All the overrun countries have had to send their quota, anc there are well over 1,060,000 French prisoners of war still held by the Nazis. During the past few days frequent reference has been made in cable messages to the efforts of the Nazis to drive tlie population of the vast areas they have failed to hold in Russia toward (the Reich, and in the last two years they have sent tens of thousands of young Russian men and womdn to work in German factories or on German farms. Transportation of the population of whole districts has been one of Hitler s alleged solutions of racial problems. He ordered the transfer of peop e o German descent from the Baltic States to the new German provinces m what was previously Poland, and it has been stated that a start has been made to settle Dutch farmers somewhere in the Ukraine. There are tens of thousands of Belgians, Norwegians, French and other forced workers somewhere in the Reich, and their overmastering desire, when the war has ended will be to get back to theix own lands and their own people. ’ * * * *

The transfer of a high officer from a command in which ho has rendered distinguished and successful service to a post in London, which means promotion to still higher rank and added responsibility, carries with it. to ie public, a sense of loss. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunninghams career as naval Commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean has mspired the public with an assuring sense of confidence and security. His depai hire ot the greater responsibilities of First Sea Lord of the Admiralty means wellmerited reward, but the officers and men of his Mediterranean command will probably regard it more in the light of a bereavement. Under Ins direction and inspiration they have done great things, and left on pages of the history of the war at sea a splendid record of achievemeu . * * * *

Practically nothing has been heard, as the Russian forces fought their way forward over a very wide front, of transport problems. They must have been immense, for the Germans would destroy every bridge they, could, and wreck every railway line, and the Russians, using on a vast scale, would require munitions in almost unlimited quantities.. The fni’Uiei they advance the greater the transport work, and it is significant that te Soviet authorities are asking for hundreds of locomotives and uO per cent, more trucks under the lend-lease arrangement. With a winter approaching, transport will he a vital factor, and supplies must biouj t up from tlie great bases established well to the east of Moscow nhfn the Nazis made their thrust for the capital. To arm,'feed and supply armies stretched out over many hundreds of miles,-and far from the bases wil be a stupendous undertaking. On a smaller scale the problem of t an poit also faces the Allies in Italy, but they will be able to use the ports a Im. the coasts to a great extent. The enemy’s linos of communtea ion < n ot fronts are being shortened, and that of the Alfies lengthened. ’ this has been a war of record movement, with whole armies covering .ic.it distances, the supply of the Allied forces has always been maintained, and that, in itself, is a wonderful performance. ______