N.Z. FORCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1943, Page 8

N.Z. FORCES

TOTAL OF 157,000

MANY DECORATIONS WON

A total of 157,000 men are serving in the armed forces of New Zealand, both in the Dominion and overseas, the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) told a meeting of electors of the Christchurch East electorate, according to the "Star-Sun."^ There were 120,000 men in the Army, 30,000 in the Air Force, and 7000 in the Navy. When the Government came into power, he said, the Air Force personnel numbered 111. That number had increased to 766 when war broke> out, while 1500 men had been sent to England for short service commissions. New Zealand airmen, said Mr. Jones, had won 338 decorations. Developments had justified the steps taken by the Government for repairing and refitting naval vessels and for the training of naval recruits, Mr. Jones continued. The 'Dominion's naval personnel now numbered 7000, and awards gained numbered 56. The soldiers who had fought in Libya had earned the reputation of being among the finest fighters in the world; that applied to Maoris and pakehas alike. The latest information showed that the Army had earned 444 decorations, four, being Victoria Grosses, while 420 had been mentioned in dispatches. Altogether, 292,305 men would have been medically examined for the Army. SENDING NEW ZEALANDERS OVERSEAS. "I know that some contend that no men /iould have been sent overseas," said Mr. Jones. "Was it their wish that we should wait until we ) were attacked?" During question time Mr. Jones was asked why New Zealand men were being sent away, and Americans brought to New Zealand. "As far as the people of Christchurch are concerned, they don't know what is going on, replied the Minister. "Many thousands of troops have arrived in New Zealand. A Marine Division arrived and went up to the Solomons, and the very few who came back were very badly maimed. Mrs. Dreaver will tell you the awful disabilities that the Americans are suffering today in the hospitals we built at the request of the Americans in Auckland and Wellington provinces. They starved and fought the Japanese in a great fight against overwhelming odds. Other men have come, to ga further north to take the place of the gallant marines."