FIT & READY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1943, Page 3

FIT & READY

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION IN PACIFIC DEFENCE MINISTER’S CONFIDENCE. VISIT TO NEW CALEDONIA. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) NEW CALEDONIA, July 11. Confidence in the fitness of the men of the 3rd New Zealand Division for any task that, might be assigned to them was expressed by New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, after he had seen a portion of the Pacific Force in New Caledonia, on his way back to the Dominion. The Minister, who has been away from New Zealand for nearly five months, accompanied Major-General H. E. Barraclough, D. 5.0., M.C., in an inspection of a ceremonial parade here, and watched other elements of the force engaged in training exercises. “A most interesting and helpful trip” was how Mr Jones described his visit to the Middle East. Great Britain. Canada and the United States. The Minister left North Africa just before the final collapse of the Axis forces there. He met, both in Africa and in Britain, New Zealanders of all three services, and those who were taking part in 'the direction of the war. All were greatly heartened by recent Allied successes in all the war theatres.

Great optimism prevailed in Britain just now at the brilliant success of the bombing raids over Axis territory, said Mr Jones. The reaction of the news from all fronts was very marked on the people of Britain, whose confidence even during the period of their greatest trials was now being justified.

There was now not the slightest doubt in England, the Minister stated, that the Allies would win through. Mr Jones paid a tribute to the work being done in the. air training scheme in Canada, a scheme which was contributing so much in turning out the air crews required to maintain and expand the Allied air offensive. More than 50,000 men had been trained already under this scheme. During his trip from Britain to the Pacific, Mr Jones met a number of the Administrative heads in Washington, including the President of the United States. Everywhere he went he found a growing spirit of confidence. Now in the final stages of his journey the Minister has been able to meet many of the men of the New Zealand Division which has not yet been tried in battle. The sterling qualities of these troops was evidenced to him both during the ceremonial parade, which was an impressive display of well-led and keenly disciplined soldiers, and in the course of the exercises which he viewed with General Barraclough later. “I am very pleased to have, had the opportunity‘of seeing at least some of the men of this division,” said Mr Jones. “The parade and inspection reflected great credit on everyone concerned. There is no doubt about the fitness of these men for any job that may be assigned to them in the future. I think they look remarkably fit, and I feel sure they will live up to the great reputation established by their mates in other parts of the world.” The Minister took the opportunity, while in the island, of visiting a field ambulance, where he inspected the lines and spoke with the patients in the hospital ward. ______