14,000 MEN

Grey River Argus, 5 January 1946, Page 3

14,000 MEN

DUE 'BACK IN N.Z. In Present Month P.A. WELLINGTON, January 4. It is expected that during the next four weeks, approximately 14,000 personnel, mainly Army, will return to New Zealand, said the Minister (if Defence (Hon. F. Jones), to-day. They will be carried as follows: — “Athlone Castle,” due ■ towards the end of next week, about 1,000, comprising nearly equal drafts of Navy, Army and Air Force. The “Rangitata,” also due towards the end of next week, about 900, comprising 427 Force, 256 Navy, 132 Army, and 80 dependants. The “Otranto,” expected during the week-end, January 12-13, is carrying 3,800, and with the exception of 150 dependants and 70 Air Force personnel, these are all Army. The “Dominion Monarch”, due about a week after the “Otranto,” will bring 3,300, all Army, and dependants. The “Durban Castle,” is expected during the fourth week in January with about 1,100, comprising 1,000 N.Z.E.F’., 50 dependants and 50 Air Force personnel. The last ship of which firm advice is known, the “Orion,” will arrive about the end of January or very early in February, carrying more than 4,000 N.Z.E.F. personnel from Italy and Egypt. The Minister said he hoped the remainder of the N.Z.E.F. in Italy and Egypt, with the exception of those detailed for the J. Force, would be back in the Dominion by the end of February. They would probably return on the “Rangitiki,” leaving England in mid-January, and the “Stirling Castle,” expected to leave about mid-January. RETURNING AIRMEN WEST COASTERS ON “ATHLONE CASTLE” West Coast men in a R.N.Z.A.F. draft returning to New Zealand from the United Kingdom and India on the “Athlone Castle,” which is expected at Wellington on approximately January 10, include the following:— From the United Kingdom:— F/Sgt. G. R; Gilbert (Westport) P/O J. R. Henderson (Dunollie). F/Sgt A. E. Howell (Greymouth). F/O E. F. McFadden (Westport). From India:— W/O J. T. Fitzgerald (Ikamatua). W/O A. R. Lowther (Westport). MEN OF MAORI BATTALION. P.A. WELLINGTON, January 4. About 700 members of the Maori Battalion are expected to arrive in Wellington toward the end of January, according to Mr. Tirikatene, Member of the Executive Council representing the Maori race. Arrangements are being made to give the men a fitting welcome, to which all Maori tribes are being invited to send representatives. It is proposed that when the men are landed they will march to Parliament Buildings, where they would be received by representatives of the Government and the Maori people. Later, the men would be entertained at a meal, Mr. Tirikatene said the men would be commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Henare, son of the late Tau Henare, M.P., who joined the Battalion as a private. P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 4. , A company from the Maori Battalion will go to Japan with the Nev/ Zealand Occupation Force, according to the Liaison Officer between the Taranaki tribal committees and thtMaori War Effort Organisation, Captain Ralph Love. He said to-nigbt the battalion would be disbanded when it reached New Zealand, except for the company mentioned, and perhaps a rear party still in the Middle East. ’

Force For Japan

P.A. WELLINGTON, January 4. In response to an invitation, Lieu-tenant-General J. Northcott would visit New Zealand next week for one or two days to discuss v ith the Government New Zealand’s contribution towards the British Commonwealth force to take part in the occupation of Japan, stated the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Nash) to-day. It was reported recently from Melbourne that General Northcott, of the Australian Army, would be in command of the British Commonwealth occupation force in Japan.