KIWIS FOR JAPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 55, 7 March 1946, Page 5

KIWIS FOR JAPAN

NEW Z 1 ALAND FORCE DUE AT END OF MONTH COMMANDER ARRIVES IN AUCKLAND (P.A.) Auckland, March 6. “I ajn pleased with the excellent spirit shown by all ranks and am confident that the force will be a credit to the Division and to New Zealand,” said Brigadier K. L. Stewart, commander of the New Zealand Brigade Force which is en route to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth occupational forces, when he arrived in Auckland yesterday. Brigadier Stewart, who left Italy after seeing his men embark for Japan on the -Strathmore on February 20, has come to New Zealand for discussions with Army headquarters. He will fly to Japan in time to meet the Strathmore at the end of the month. Details of training in Italy by the Dominion force were given by Brigadier Stewart, who said that ceremonial drill and sports, instruction on rifles, machine-guns, mortars and flame-throwers formed the bulk of the work. “I am a great believer in flamethrowers as a weapon of war,” he remarked. The men had responded to’ the demand for smartness and realised that in peace precision on the parade ground was of first importance. Brigadier Stewart said he had been amazed at the number of men off duty who had regularly attended ceremonial guard mounting carried out every evening in Italy. There had been great rivalry between the units

to turn on a smart guard. Hdwever, training had been by no means all "spit and polish” as every encouragement had been given to sport, the afternoons being set aside for football or some form of physical training. The Freyberg Cun had been completed for by units of the force and tremendous interest had been evoked between all ranks composed of three units, Divisional Cavalry, 22nd. Battalion, and 27th, Battalion. SELF-CONTAINED UNIT

The brigade was travelling to Japan completely equipped and self-contained and was prepared for any eventuality, Brigadier Stewart continued. An E.R.S. organisation was with the force and was preparing men for examinations and would conduct examinations for the University of New Zealand.

New Zealanders in Japan would wear a distinctive triangular patch with varying colours for.different sections. He added that at present none of the traditional peaked hats were available and Divisional Cavalry was wearing black berets, 22nd. Battalion khaki berets, while the remainder were wearing general service caps. “As far as I know at present, the brigade will be stationed on an island named Eta Jima, off Kure,” Brigadier Stewart said. “Everything is supposed to be provided in the way of accommodation, but we have tents in case this is not so.” It had been decided that food would be provided by the Australians.

Composition of the force was 4000, including officers, he continued, and only 80 of these were married. There were a large number of volunteers and the only conscripts were men from the 13th., 14th., and 15th. reinforcements. In addition there were 73 nursing sisters and WAACS, all volunteers from the same reinforcements.

As.no order had yet been issued regarding fraternisation witli the Japanese he had impressed on the men that they must treat them firmly but fairly.