“WE WANT TO GO HOME!”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 271, 16 November 1945, Page 3

“WE WANT TO GO HOME!”

AUSTRALIAN SERVICEMEN LOSS OF FAITH IN PROMISES BY GOVERNMENT Sydney, Nov. 14 Thousands o’ disillusioned Australian servicemen in the islands are raising the cry “when are we going home?” says the “Sun” correspondent, cabling from Rabaul. They have lost all faith in Ministerial promises that they will be home for Christmas, and want the Chiflev Government to say, without qualification, whether they will have to stay a little longer, or a lot longer, adds the correspondent. An examination of the demobilisation debacle indicates that Mr. Chifley and the Minister of the Army, Mr. Forde, have raised false hopes and committed the transport organisation to an impossible task. Mr. Forde stated recently that most of the men would be home early in December. This conflicts with an earlier remark that the prospects are not bright for relieving the garrisons in 1946. The present confusion and uncertainty are causing such despondency that the troops want the Government to say, unequivocally, whether it can honour its undertakings. The troops are asking why, if the Government cannot get merchant ships or control strikes, warships are not being used to evacuate the men from the islands, as Britain and America are doing? The correspondent says Rabaul was promised two ships to leave with 1300 troops last month. None has arrived. One is held up by strikers in Brisbane, and the other shin has been cancelled.

“If Rabaul and Lae. where conditions are somewhat similar, are typical examples of the repatriation muddles the Government has a job in front of it to carry out its promises,” concludes the correspondent.