U.S. Army Division Enjoys N.Z. Rest Period

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1944, Page 2

U.S. Army Division Enjoys N.Z. Rest Period

Spread throughout the northern half of the North Island, in camps handed down by its predecessors, who in turn received them from the New Zealand Army, is a complete division of the United States Army, which, in campaigns in the Solomons, distinguished itself with merit, assisting in the capture of the first step-ping-stone towards the conclusion of the war raging in the Pacific. United States soldiers at present furloughing in Northland are members of this division, which lias visited New Zealand previously.

The first time the Americans saw these shores was when they passed through New Zealand on their way to the Solomons late in 1942 and early in 1943. Now the soldiers are having a period of rest after a long stretch of island service, including a bitterly-fought, campaign in New Georgia, where they captured Munda airfield. Dominion Popular According to its senior officers, proof of the division’s attachment to New Zealand was easily visible when it was informed that the furlough period was to be spent in the Dominion. At first it was thought that there was a possibility, and a very unwelcome chance, that the rest period would be spent in New Caledonia, but when New Zealand was named as the country to which the Americans would be returning, universal gladness superseded the despondency which the first news had caused. While every laxity possible is allowed the members of the division to ensure that they enjoy their well earned rest period, great care is taken that Ihe reputation which they won lor themselves in the Solomons is not blackened. One month’s leave will be granted all personnel no matter what period is spent in New Zealand. In this period the men will have the most liberal of leave possible consistent with maintaining the division on a properly-organised footing.

At the end of the rest and recreation period the division will proceed to training. The programme for this is designed to bring every, soldier up to the point where he is completely efficient in his individual duties yet thoroughly able to graduate naturally to tactical exercise in formation. However, at the moment the soldiers are not thinking of the training which has to come. Everyone in his own way. they are making the most of their respective rest periods and, allied inextricably with their thoughts of what they will do on leave, is their determination to make the most of the fresh food, which, compared with their experience in the Solomons, is abundant in New Zealand. Maintaining Good Name

To supervise the conduct of the men on leave, great care is taken by the senior officers of the camp. Orders on camp notice boards proclaim the responsibility of the individual soldier to do nothing that will bring himself his division or his country into disrepute. One such order concludes significantly that those who do not “play ball’’ will find that life in New Zealand is a succession of details or duties about the camp. Of special satisfaction to the command is the fact that the division’s arrest rate is very low. Although it is realised that sometimes this is of little significance, comfort is taken on this occasion from the fact that the military police are themselves supervised in the execution of their duties by patrols of inspecting officers whose responsibility is directly to the commanding general. Leave is generous. While many of the men choose places where they can fish or swim, sail yachts or dance, see the welladvertised tourist resorts or merely get as far away as they can from khaki, others have shown a very definite desire for farm life. Numbers of them are spending their furlough with Northland farming families helping them with the work and. at the same time, benefiting from .the healthy, rural life and excellent food.