TROOP MOVEMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 16, 18 July 1940, Page 9

TROOP MOVEMENTS

WITHIN DOMINION

ELABORATE ORGANISATION

The transport of troops within the Dominion since mobilisation began is the subject of special reference in the annual report of Major-General Sir John Duigan on the military forces, which was tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday. The report states that the movement of personnel within the Dominion from the time of mobilising an echelon, daily and home leave, and the final entraining to embarkation ports has involved elaborate arrangements covering railways, shipping, road, • and air travel. In ordinary times any one of these movements would be considered a major and probably a much publicised event. A rough approximation of journeys already arranged would be about 60,000. Over 13,000 personnel have been dispatched on long sea journeys, which create considerable problems. For obvious reasons these problems cannot be mentioned in detail, but, in addition to victualling,. arrangements were necessary for the equipping of the troops for overseas climates and for the dispatch of military stores for those already gone overseas. Overseas movements have been carried out in coordination with the British and Australian Governments not only in respect to supplying and escorting the convoys; but also for loading the ships with produce and for equipping them for the conveyance of troops. The arrangements made for each ship are such that each is a complete military community in itself, highly organised ( in all essentials. As an example of this not only is provision made for military training on the voyage, but all ships are equipped with hospitals, dental services, postal and pay services, canteens, and gift distribution and social amenities.

That the movements have so far been carried out so smoothly in New Zealand is attributable to the willing co-operation given by all concerned, and in this respect some*special tribute must be paid to the services given by the New Zealand Railways, harbour boards, and police and traffic personnel.