14,000 IN NEXT FOUR WEEKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26043, 5 January 1946, Page 4

14,000 IN NEXT FOUR WEEKS

DETAILS OF RETURNING DRAFTS (P.A. ) WELLINGTON, Jan. 4. It is expected that during the next four weeks approximately 14,000 personnel (mainly army) will return to New Zealand,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, to-day. They will be carried as follows: — The Athlone Castle is due towards the end of next week with about 1000 comprising nearly equal drafts of navy, army, ana air force. The Rangitata is also due towards the end of next week with about 900. comprising 427 air force, 256 navy, 132 army, and 80 dependents. The Otranto is expected during the week-end, January 12-13, carrying 3800, and, with the exception of 150 dependents and 70 air force personnel, these are all army. The Dominion Monarch, due about a week after the Otranto, will bring 3300, all army and dependents. The Durban Castle is expected during the fourth week of January with about 1100, comprising 1000 N.Z.E.F., 50 dependents, and 50 air force personnel. The last ship of which firm advice is known, the Orion, will arrive about the end of January, of” very early in February, carrying more than 4000 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, which was also expected to leave about mid-January.