GENEROUS PRAISE

Evening Star, Issue 24284, 27 August 1942, Page 4

GENEROUS PRAISE

CHURCHILL MEETS HEW ZEALAND TROOPS A DESERT OCCASION (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, August 24. Britain’s Premier. Mr Churchill, gave generous and inspiring praise to a representative gathering of New Zealanders whom ho met on his second visit to the El Alamoin battlefront. Ho told them they had played a magnificent part in stemming the British retreat in Egypt. Covered from head to loot with tho fine dust of the Western Desert, and wearing his familiar grey-blue “ boiler suit,” Mr Churchill gathered the New Zealanders about him to give them an intimate talk. After referring to tho part the New Zealanders had played in the Middle East, Mr Churchill said; “ When the great days come, as come they will, we shall never your valiant service. Not long ago I heard someone in England say that tho Now Zealand fighting men arc ‘ balls of fire.’ That description was given by someone who has had a great opportunity of assessing your worth. 1 am happy to bo with you fiere, more particularly as vour commander is a very old friend of mine, a friend of long standing.” When Mr Churchill met the New Zealanders near Corps Headquarters in tho heart of the Alamein defences, he was accompanied by the Chief of the Imperial Staff, General Brooke. Com-mander-in-Chief, Middle East. General Alexander, the Commander of the Eighth Army, General Montgomery, and the Commander of tho Thirteenth Corps, to which the New Zealanders arc attached. The New Zealand troops were assembled in units, with the staff officers in front. Most of those who met Mr Churchill were wearing decorations recently won. Tho staff officers were introduced to him by General Freyberg. 'Flo then went round the ranks and shook hands with all the New Zealand representatives. He was wearing green coloured glasses and a sun helmet, and carried a silk parasol, tightly rolled, which he used as a walking stick. After his address was over he got back into his open desert staff car and gave the New Zealanders a cheery wave with his hat.