NOT MERELY "SPIT AND POLISH" TROOPS

Evening Star, Issue 25716, 13 February 1946, Page 7

NOT MERELY "SPIT AND POLISH" TROOPS

ETA JIMA MAY BE H.Q.

(N.Z. Official Correspondent with

J Force.) KURE, February 11. _ The British Commonwealth occupation force in Japan will be no mere " spit and polish " formation designed solely to impress the Japanese. Although a high standard of parade ground efficiency will have been established prior, to the 'arrival of* the forces here, senior officers stress the fact that the training programmes will include field instruction as the force may quite conceivably be called on to take up a more active role than garrison duties. Although the Japanese could not be more docile or co-operative, the possibility is envisaged that the return of the personnel from the theoretically unbeaten Japanese armies in China and Manchuria, plus the unique (£or Japan) opportunities of political expression, may be conducive to " incidents." It is expected that the personnel of the occupation force will welcome the opportunity for field training, as any accent on " bull ring " drill would rapidly become mdnotonous. Although finality has not been reached, it is believed that the New Zealand Brigade's initial area in the zone to be occupied by the British Commonwealth occupation force in Japan will be, the large island of Eta Jima, a short distance off shore from force headquarters at the great former Japanese naval base of Kure. The suggestions that the Commonwealth force has been handed the " dirty end of the occupational stick " has apparently risen from a misconception of the fact that Hiroshima is the prefecture of the province, not merely the atomic bomb-devastated city. This misconception is exemplified by a cartoon in an Australian newspaper, which, with a cricketing allusion, suggested that Australia had once again won the ashes.

Although the area was in the immediate vicinity of Hiroshima, and Kure affords little of the expected original glamour and picturesqueness, facilities are being arranged to afford all elements of the occupation force opportunities to visit famous beauty spots throughout Japan. In addition, it is intended the component brigades of the force should periodically exchange localities throughout the Commonwealth area. Senior officers state that it is the intention of the commander, Lieutenant-general J. Northcott, that the brigade occupying Eta Jima should be the first to supply a token battalion for guard duties in the Tokio area, in which case it would at present appear that the New Zealanders will be the first Commonwealth troops to be distinguished in this way. It is emphasised, however, that the detachment may not be sent to Tokio for some time after its arrival, as it is intended to give all the Commonwealth troops an " orientation period to assist towards a rapid settling down in the Commonwealth area.