WAR IN BURMA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25047, 10 November 1944, Page 4

WAR IN BURMA

ATJCKLAJfDEK ON LEAVE SERVICE WITH CHINDITS One of the New Zealand airmen who have been serving in the cosmopolitan forces fighting the Japanese in Burma is at present in Auckland on leave. He is Squadron - Leader V. K. Jacobs, Ii.N.Z.A.F., son of Mr and Mrs F. C. Jacobs, of 1 Jesmond Terrace, Mount Albert. He wears on his right sleeve the distinctive shoulder flash a golden Chinthe, the legendary lion which guards the portals of Burmese temples . —of the Chindits, the famous combined force which grew out of the imagination and genius of the late Major-Geneial Orde Wingate. Squadron-Leader Jacobs fully sub- ' scribes to the statements published yesterday from Air Chief Marshal Sit Philip Joubert, deputy-Chief of Staff to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, who said the Fourteenth Army wondered why people at home know nothing about their deeds in a terribly difficult area. Squadron-Leader Jacobs said the men in the for wand areas felt they were indeed forgotten, and there was no doubt that much could still be done to improve their lot. ' Food and Leave 1 In the lives of all servicemen, he ; said, food, mail and leave were of the utmost importance, and the men who 1 were doing the fighting in Burma had 5 many complaints to make about their food and leave. Some improvements had been effected to the iood, although 5 it still fell a long way short of the - qualitv enjoyed by Americans in the 3 same theatre, but the question or leave and recreation had not yet satisfactorily solved

The distances separating the forward areas from the towns of the rear areas, notably Calcutta, and the difficulties of travel,' were two of the causes for complaint. By jamming themselves into carriages little better than cattle trucks British other ranks had been able to go to Calcutta by train. The journey might take up to three weeks, and so exhaust the whole period of their leave before thev ever reached the city where they wished to spend it. A special air service which provided 200 seats a day for the Army and 20 seats a day for R.A.F. personnel, while it overcame the time difficulty. still could not hope to cater for all the men going on leave from a large force. Pay and Cost of Living Another tremendous difficulty for the men was caused by their pay and the high cost of living in India. Even if they managed to reach Calcutta, their pay was not sufficient to give them much fun. for one meal alone could swallow about 1 -20 th part of their money. Some of the women of Calcutta were doing magnificent work for the men on leave, but it was the view of large numbers that more people of Calcutta could follow this example, throw open their homes to men on leave, and so give them something of that which thev had been denied for so long—the atmosphere of their own home liFe Some rest centres had been opened up in various areas for the benefit of the soldiers and airmen on leave, but they were not able to accommodate all the men wanting relaxation from the filth, monotonv and hardships of active service. Entertainment in the forward areas was practically negligible. Ensa tours had been few and far between and far more mobile cinemas than were available were urgently needed. However. said Squadron - Leader Jacobs, while the men in the forward areas were justified in feeling '"thoroughly browned-off." their fighting morale had not been affected. In their engagements with the Japanese they had performed so magnificently that they fully deserved a great deal of credit. TRAIN ACCOMMODATION EXPRESSES FROM AUCKLAND The provision by the Railway Department of 11 expresses each week on the Main Trunk route is helping considerably to alleviate overcrowding on the Auckland-Wellington service. Two trains, with a complement of about 12 carriages, leave Auckland on four days each week, the exceptions being Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, when there is only one. Special carriages to accommodate servicemen are put on the afternoon-expresses. Similar services are operated from Wellington. There is a good demand for sleeping cars on the limited express, which runs twice a week. The number of cars varies from three to five, and there is generally a small waiting-list. Passengers unable to obtain berths are accommodated in first-class carriages. Bookings for both first and second class scats are heavy on all trains, most of the reservations being made up to a week in advance. When there is available accommodation. passengers travelling short distances are allowed to board the trains immediately before departure. NORTHERN CLUB COOK AN UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL An appeal bv the Northern Club (Mr Ha mer) against not being allowed to engage Miss Iv. Daly as a cook was dismissed by the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday. The secretary, Mi ss E. F. Hutton. said the club was a residential one, haying accommodation for 20 guests. Since the outbreak of war, the subscriptions of 31 members serving overseas nad been cancelled, and the club had opened its doors to all servicemen, regardless of rank. She felt that the useful and important service which the club was rendering was not generally known. NEW FIRE STATION The official opening of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board's new buildings in Pitt Street will take place on Monday, November 20, at 2.30 p.m. The buildings will be opened by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, and the chairman of the board, Mr B. Brigham, will preside. CHURCH CENTRE WANTED The advantages of having a Church centre outside the city for retreats, training and refresher courses and kindred gatherings are pointed out by the Bishop of Auckland, the Rt. Rev. W. J. Simkin, in a pastoral letter published in the Church Gazette. The bishop remarks that schools are generally available for such purposes, but only during holiday periods, which are not the most suitable times for gatherings. In the Wellington Diocese a centre has been provided through the generosity of the widow of the late Bishop Frederick Wallis. In Auckland such an establishment would be used by clergy, lav readers, Sunday school teachers and young people. The bishop asks for suggestions about ways in which the idea may be realised.