CHANCE FOR YOUNG MEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 55, 7 March 1946, Page 3

CHANCE FOR YOUNG MEN

SERVICE IN OCCUPATION FORCE (J.-Force Official Correspondent.) Kure, March 1. Among the troops who have been in. Japan for some time there is growing opinion that if the occupation of this country is to be, as they think, a long-tern affair, every effort should be made to allow young men of the Pacific nat.ons an opportunity to see the eastern aggressors in their homeland. In other words, if as it seemsprobable some form of compulsory military service is instituted in the dominions and Amer.ca, a portion of the training time should be served in the occupation of Japan. Their argument has several angles. First, as one New Zealand captain has suggested: “If you have never seen a wasp you have only a vague idea of what to watch out for in order to avoid being stung.” Secondly, it would make the comparatively brief service period a definite military commitment instead of “a Burnham bullring and week-ends at home reminiscent of a Boy Scouts’ camp.” EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. Thirdly, it would be a broadening and educative experience for youths and would tend to waken a realisation of the important fact that the Pacific these days is not such a vast place as it appears on the map. Fourthly, it would offset the potentially dangerous parochialism and insularity by permitting a glimpse of the outside world and giving contacts with men of other nations.

This view is also shared by thinking Americans, despite the recent clamour of sections of the Aimer.can occupation troops for immediate return home. A suggestion contained in a letter to the editor of the American forces newspaper, Stars and Stripes, that occupational commitments could be met by recruiting an army of international mercenaries, was generally regarded as typical expression of selfindulgence and lack of understanding of international duties which must be combated.

A silver Dakota flying a general’s flag above the cockp.t brought Lieu-tenant-General J. Northcott, Com-mander-in-Chief of the British Commonwealth occupation force to Hiroshima airfield op February 26 to take over command of the British area. The general was met at the airfield by senior staff officers.

. There was the usual sprinkling of inquisitive Japanese civilians on the edge of the airstrip watching without expression, as the general inspected the smart Australian guard of honour.