HOMEWARD BOUND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 5

HOMEWARD BOUND

DRAFT FROM JAPAN DEPARTURE ON SATURDAY (Official N.Z.E.F. Correspondent with J Force) (Rec. 7 p.m.) KURE, July 6. Expectantly looking forward to their first sight of New Zealand for two years, troops of the first returning draft this morning left Japan, probably forever. The Chitral’s gangway was down soon after dawn, and an hour later the 15,350-ton 21-year-old P. and O. liner swung from the wharf on her course through the island-dotted Inland Sea. She is expected to arrive at Wellington about July 22 or 23. There will be one port of call —Guam — for water, but not for leave. Three special troop trains, after travelling most of the night through the New Zealand area, arrived at Kure early yesterday morning. The men were transported by trucks over the rutted roads arid past blasted buildings to the wharf. Embarkation of men and baggage went on without a hitch.

The draft consists of 1960, including 15 nursing sisters and 10 V.A.D.’s. They are drawn mainly from the thirteenth reinforcements. Brigadier K. L. Stewart, who has just handed over the command to Brigadier L. Potter, is among those returning. The Chitral, which has hot weather accommodation for more than 3000, is not crowded and each troop deck has proportional spare room. All the men sleep in bunks and hammocks. The deck space is greater than that of the Empire Pride. The first day’s meals were described as excellent.

In spite of the early difficulties of settling in and later the occasional monotony, most of the men agreed that their months in Japan were packed with interest and had passed quickly. Few were reluctant to exchange the summer heat and humidity of Japan for the change of even the worst New Zealand mid-winter; few disagreed with the statement that the best about the Chitral was that “she was pointed in the right direction.”