DESERT INCIDENT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 32, Issue 3290, 19 July 1943, Page 3

DESERT INCIDENT

EMISSARY CAPTURED GENERAL FREYBERG’S STORY An amusing sidelight on the final stages of the New Zealanders' longstanding rivalry with the 90th German Light Division was related by Lieut.General Sir Bernard Freyberg. V.C.. when paying a brief visit to New Caledonia on his way to New Zealand. When the German Division was finally trapped by the New Zealanders, General Freyberg selected an enemy prisoner to carry a demand for surrender to the German commander. Major-General Count von Sponeck. That private never touched his own lines, for an Allied patrol, not knowing his role, recaptured him as he was on his way to the German lines, and brought him back. General Freyberg tried again., and this time his emissary got through, only to be told by von Sponeck that surrender was never contemplated. The New Zealand response was an exhortation to come out and fight properly if there was to be no surrender. “And,” General Freyberg added, “to cut a long story short, we took 50,000 prisoners—a good show.”

tion Office, referring to a programme presented towards the end of March, for the civilian population of Malta, says :■ — “It seems certain that the ‘Kiwi Revue’ will become the classic concert party of this war in much the same way as did the ‘Rouges et Noirss,’ the troupe which became famous in France and Flanders in the Great War. The general standard of the company is far too high to allow of individual mention, but it is impossible not to give a word of praise to the band. It was superb, particularly during the interval with its rendering of Tn the | Mood.’ . . . Malta is now more deeply than ever in the debt of her Empire partner, since everyone on this island recalls with gratitude the splendid contribution, amounting to several thousands of pounds, which the people of New Zealand have made to the Malta Relief Fund.”