N.Z. TROOPS IN JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24953, 14 August 1946, Page 6

N.Z. TROOPS IN JAPAN

.—* — COLONEL COMMENTS . ON COMPLAINTS

IMPROVED AMENITIES PLANNED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 13. Commenting on the recent complaint that the NeV Zealand soldier in Japan regarded himself as the “poor relation” of the Americans, Lieutenant-Colonel W. F. Titchener, commanding officer of the 27th Battalion in Japan, who arrived by air from Japan to-day, said it was the first he heard of it The Americans got more pay, but they cooperated in every way, he said. It was not often that Americans and New Zealanders came in contact in their various zones, and he could see no grounds for the suggestion. As arrangements and organisation progressed, everything would be done to make the lot of the mpn there as comfortable as possible, Colonel Titchener said. When the first New Zealanders arrived they took over former American bases, which were as good as anything the Kiwis ever had except perhaps. Maadi at the finish. When they first went to Japan no one knew what the job was. They had to take what was offering. A rebuilding programme was about to be embarked upon to put up new barracks at Shimonoseki and Ozuki. It was expected that all accommodation would be completed in six to nine months. The Divisional Cavalry was already at Yanai, where the barracks were in first-class order. Any delay in carrying out this plan was because it had only recently been decided what area the New Zealanders were to occupy, and the disposition of the troops in each camp would be modelled on the best lines, with all amenities. Welfare and games would be well provided for. At Yamaguchi a football field was being constructed. There were also a stadium for sports, a teppis court and a swimming pool at Yamaguchi.

Unit Rest Camps At present there were three unit rest camps. Every man coming home had first priority for a period there. There was one parade only a day, with no dress regulations, while everything was done for the men by Japanese servants. These camps were on the coast.

Speaking of complaints that there was no place to go to Colonel Titchener said Japanese towns were just dirtv little villages, while there was the barrier of the language difficulty. Troops had leave every night after six, and leave on Saturday and Sunday after 12 o’clock. There were pictures six nights of the week. At Yamaguchi a club was being rebuilt, modelled on the lines of the New Zealahd Forces’ Club in Cairo. It should be ready in three months. A club at Chofu had just been built. The food, he said, was better than anything the troops ever had in Italy. The complaints were not about lack of food but to the nature of it and dehydrated vegetables. It was against orders to buy fresh vegetables in Japan because of the danger of hookworm and also, it had been stated, because of the need of food for the starving Jananese. There had been three complaints out of the battalion in a week which did not justify criticism. said the colonel. Every unit had a canteen supplied through the Australian canteen service with which New Zealand amalgamated. The troops now got seven quart bottles of beer weekly. The Americans often had to get supplies of beer and spirits through the New Zealanders.

There was no doubt about the shortage of clothing earlier, said Colonel Titchener, because the ordnance depot was held fin in the transfer from Italy. When he left for New Zealand 10 days ago. every man was equipped according to scale. Americans Were There First

Any criticism about the Americans being better set up was because they had a jump of six months on the New Zealand troops in their arrival. This had to be caught ud. The position at Tokyo did give room for criticism, but here again the Americans, being first im had taken all the best accommodation. Arrangements were being made for New Zealand personnel to take over and supervise for the use of troops one of the leading hotels. However, leave camos were being set un throughout the country. When the draft who had complained about conditions at Tokyo had been leaving to come home, authorities had wished to let them see it. Everything had been done in a rush. A Iqt of complaints came from men who were embittered and never wanted to go to Japan in the first place. The men who left for Jgpan by the Empire Pride were proving very keen and were all volunteers! Asked how long the occupation of Janan would last. Colonel Titchener said that in his opinion it would recuire 50 years to put down the aggressive spirit *of the people. Considering the carefully hidden dumps of arms, ammunition, and poison gas that had been found, demobilisation was proceeding fast. It was most apparent that former officers of the Jananese army were most unnopular with the people and were keen to hide their identity.