London, Feb, 12. HE Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have begun to arrive in the Middle East, and are proceeding to their special areas, according to a communique issued by the War Office today.—Reuter.
Somewhere in Middle East, Feb, 12.
Making one of the biggest armies ever to cross the seas in a single unit, the New Zealand Expeditionary' Force and the Second Australian Imperial Force arrived here today.
The troops, massed on decks, sang and waved to those ashore as their ships" slowly entered harbour. A message of greeting from the King was taken on board the first New Zealand transport to arrive, When the troops disembarked, they. journeyed to a newly-constructed township of camouflaged tents and wooden huts. With traditional has pitality, units of the British Army had sent large parties to prepare camp for overseas contingents, The site was converted within eight weeks from waste devoid. of all habitation. The layout involved the construction of seven miles roads, a complete sterilized water system, and four miles of drains.
"The ' tent of Major-General C. B. Freyberg, commander-in-chief of the New Zealand force, was pitched in. a small knoll in the centre of the township, with a commanding view of the whole.
'Those present when the transports arrived included Sir Mules Lampson, British Ambassador to Egypt, and Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald 'Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of the British' troops in the Middle East, who told Reuter that to combat the fly menace, sixteen miles of muslin had been purchased for the protec~ tion of the food of the traps.
Strenuous active training will com~ mence as soon as the men's feet have hardened after the long journey.
Mis Majesty's: Messag now revealed that, Mr. Anthony Eden, the Dominion Secretary, who arrived in Cairo over the week-end, boarded the first New Zea and transport to prive, taking with him the message from the King.
The King's message of welcome to General Freyberg stated: "I know well that the splendid tradition established by the armed forces New Zealand will be worthily upheld by you who have left: your homes to fight for a cause which the whole Empire had made its own. 1 send you a warm, welcome and est wishes for the future.'
General Freyberg, who was await ing the arrival of the force here, {old Reuter's Special Corresponder would wager, any military experi~ cence I possess i backing my opinion, that the men who comprise this force will strive hard to uphold great reputation of the New Zealand. Expeditionary of the last war."
Macramall" Cry to Greeting In reply to His Majesty's greetings extended by Mr. Eden aboard the first transport, General Freyberg: tutiered the traditional Maori cry He asked Mr. Eden to take paci, on behalf of the New Zealand peditionary. Force, their keenest oppreciation' of His Majesty's message, ud to confirm their great loyalty and devotion. He expressed the New saland Government's thanks to the Royal Navy "for the great care taken protecting the New Zealand and Australian: forces."
In-an address to the New Zealand=
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.