ACTIVITIES IN SYRIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1942, Page 3

ACTIVITIES IN SYRIA

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED IN EMPIRE ARMIES. INTENSE AND VARIED TRAINING. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) BEIRUT, June 12. The possibility of' Syria, a battleground for 5000 years, seeing further fighting in this war steadily lessens as the United Nations strike at the Axis on land and sea and in the air, and pour war equipment into the Middle East by sea. The Allied fleet watches the Eastern Mediterranean, and on land the Russian army in the Caucasus and the Azerbaijan mountains stands between the German forces and the riches of Iran, Iraq and Syria, where the 9th and 10th British Armies are stationed. Guarding the age-old invasion routes into Syria is the 9th Army, including the New Zealand Division and Australians. There is no defensive inertia in the division. It has struck the enemy hard in the past and is learning to strike him harder still in the future. In bitter winds on the snowfields, and in the leaden heat of the Syrian desert, the New Zealanders have been carrying out intensive tactical training. In one week the troops have been lorried infantry, in a strong striking force; the next, mountain troops, carrying supplies on mules and forcing a way for long miles over steep, scrub-covered wastes. Close air support provides long-range eyes, and the artillery land forces add a powerful weapon to the already strong brigade group organisation. Two New Zealand brigades have already manoeuvred in Syria as independent striking forces, and the third, which fought foi' five weeks in Libya as a brigade group, is starting similar training shortly. A feature of these manoeuvres has been the success of the air support scheme, which enables the brigadiers to observe and attack the enemy far beyond the range of land weapons. Long marches, and plenty of digging and road-making, have made the New Zealanders brown and fit. Live shooting with all arms has added interest to the training. Occasional changes of position, including a week’s change of air in camp at the seaside, relieved the monotony of being out of action. Their next action will find them one of the most experienced divisions in the British Army at its best.