NEW ZEALAND FORCES CLUB

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 230, 26 June 1944, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FORCES CLUB

Luxury Hotel In Rome (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) ROME, June 24. “Just the best yet,” is the general verdict on the -New Zealand Forces Club now in full operation in Rome. Every day truckloads of men from the division roll down the historic highways and into the heart of the Eternal City. They find the New Zealand flag flying over what was still a few weeks ago one of the three best hotels in Rome. Today it has lost nothing of its appearance of luxury, but superimposed is the iNew Zealand' touch so well remembered in Cairo and Bari., “Albergo Quirinale” is situated in Via Nazionale, in the centre of the modern city. From its doorway one can look down toward the gleaming white memorial to Victor Emmanuel the Second, the famous Piazza Venezia, which was once the scene of so many Fascist, triumphs, and Trajan's Forum. The impressive structure is built around a 'broad courtyard framed with balconies. The diningroom for other ranks extends across a wide and airy room, through the glassedin section of the yard. Entrance is by way of a sumptuously furnished lounge, in which an Italian orchestra plays modern and traditional tunes.. Nearby is the officers’ dining-room and lounge, and also lounges for nurses and the V.A.D. s. Well-stocked bars and a barber shop and canteen complete facilities on the ground floor. . . ~ The rest of the hotel is on a similar luxury scale. The club is under the management of Captain C. Gatenby. and recently Lady Freyberg and some of the Now Zealand girls from Bari arrived to fake up duties.' At present overnight accommodation is possible by order of the Rome Command for officers and nurses only but everything possible is being done for the entertainment of troops. Excellent meals .'ire being provided at the lowest possible cost, and there are specially conducted tours of Rome. Yesterday New Zealanders visited the Vatican and were shown round St. Peter s lj' ■■uides who included a New Zealander. Father Flanagau. Afterward they attended an audience of the Pope.