AMERICAN PARADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24827, 25 February 1944, Page 4

AMERICAN PARADE

DECORATIONS AWARDED IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY Ten American soldiers were decora tec! with awards won in action against the enemy wnen a special presentation ceremony was held near Auckland yesterday. Five of them received the Legion of Merit and five the Silver Star. The ceremony coincided with the anniversary of their division's induction for active service. It was attended by the .Mayor. .Mr. J. A. C. Allmi. the oilicer com outriding the Northern .Military District. Major-General P. H. Bell, C.8., D.5.0., and other representative Auckland citizens. Alter the ceremony the commanding general entertained the quests at an afternoon party held at his headquarters camp. The Decorated Soldiers The soldiers who were decorated were: .Major Philip L. .Miller, of .Maine, FirstLieutenant Pari P. Conway, ot Ohio, First-Lieutenant James \Y. Lamb, ol Virginia, Second-Lieutenant Jackson S. King, of California, and Technician Jean P. Labreque, ol .Maine, all o! whom received the Legion ol .Merit; and Captain William L, Latta, ol West Virginia, Staff-Sergeant Bert 11. Baker, of Kentucky, Sergeant Marcel A. Dayon, of Maine, Sergeant Richard K. Greer, oi .Maine, and Private Charles F. Minnie, of Ohio, all of whom received the Silver Star. The presentation ceremony was held in a field in one of the American camp areas. A battalion of infantry, preceded by a band, marched into the field in column of companies and drew up in front of the commanding general. The It) men receiving decorations marched in file to the front: oi the parade, and after the hand had played both the British and American .National Anthems the general presented to each man the decoration he bad won. All were awarded as the result oi the division's part in attacking and defeating t lie Japanese on islands in the Solomons. March Past Held After the presentation the impressive ceremony was continued by the decorated men marching to a point alongside t he commanding general. Past them the battalion then marched in review, led by the band, and with a colour party carrying the Stars and Stripes placed in the centre of the column of march. American officers of the division were inclined tc deprecate the standard of marching and the appearance of the men. They apologised for the fact that there had not vet been time to clean uniforms and regretted that the formation had been so long in the field thai the men had forgotten parade ground drill. However, the ceremony showed how well American formations can march and drill, a particular feature being the rigidity of the companies when they were required to stand at the salute or at attention for lairly long periods of time. It was difficult to detect any fault, and in this respect, as in others, it was one of the most impressive presentation ceremonies the Americans have held in New Zealand. ENEMY WAR PRISONERS SUCiGESTEJ) employment WORK IN DOMINION (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Thursday "J he question of receiving prisoners of war with a view to employing them on agricultural and other work in New Zealand has been the subject of inquiry and is actually under consideration at the moment," said the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. P. Fraser in reply to an urgent question asked by .Mr. W. J Broadfoot (Opposition—Waitomo) in the House of Representatives to-day. I Mr. Broadfoot in his question said that i Britain was using large numbers of I prisoners in her primary industries and had recently asked Australia, where rood were already employed, to take more of them. The Prime .Minister said that from information obtained as to the experience in other British countries Italian prisoners of war and not Germans were suitable for employment on farms, and the possibility of obtaining Italians, if they were still available for this purpose, was receiving eon.-iderafion. However, there were obvious difficulties. for Italy's status had now changed, he continued, and the question whether men would come voluntarily would he looked into, h they did thai on the understanding that they would be repatriated after the war, the construction of camps and provision of guards, which would involve a lot of labour, would bo obviated. THE FURLOUGH DRAFT SAME LEAVE FOR ALL (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Thursday Commenting to-night on leave to be granted to men on furlough from the Middle East the Minister ot Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said that when the draft was met in Australia the men were told that those who would he returning to the .Middle East would he granted three months' leave and that the remainder would be given the normal 28 days' sick and privilege leave prior to discharge. It was then brought fo the .Minister's notice that the men had been told before they left the Middle Fast that all would be granted three months' leave. The War Cabinet had decided that in the circumstances all of the men would be given three months' leave and privileges A civic welcome, and social evening in honour of Mount Eden members of the overseas armed forces on furlough and service women and men of the Navy. Air Force and Merchant .Marine who 'nave served overseas and returned -inee July 23 last will be held in the Crystal Palace ballroom next Tuesday night. The function !ia« been arranged Itv the Mount F.den Borough Council, in conjunction with the Mount I'.den Patriotic Committee. A presentation will he made to each relumed member of the forces, after which a dance will he hold in the ballroom. JURY AGAIN DISAGREES ORDER FOR THIRD TRIAL (P A.) CIIHISTC'IIUIK'n, Thursday After a retirement of nearly four hours a jury to-day tailed to agree in the ease of Wilfred fieriry Hanks, timber merchant, aged HP, who was charged uith an alleged laf-e pretence. It was the second trial ol accused, the jury at the first trial having failed to agree. When a disagreement, was announced to-day. Mr. A. W. Brown, for the Crown, moved ior a third trial and the application was. granted by Mr. Justice Nort heroft. The charge against accused was that he had with intent to defraud obtained from the Fnited States Joint Purchasing .Board L2>o by falsely representing that the grade or quality ol timber supplied to the board was higher than in lact it was. COURSES IN FARMING Many ox-servicemen and women have made application to .'iffend farming courses at Massey Agricultural College under the Rehabilitation Board's scheme, states an announcement by the college authorities. li. is expected b.v them that the increasing importance of agricullnre as a result of the war, and the greater interest being taken in scientific farming by the younger generation, may necessitate considerable post-war enlargement of the college buildings and facilities. Both men and women are attending the recent ly-inf reduced horticultural course. More returned men will take farming courses commencing at the md of this month.