FIRST N.Z. TROOPS LEAVE JAPAN

Chronicle (Levin), 9 July 1946, Page 2

FIRST N.Z. TROOPS LEAVE JAPAN

! STAY IN EAST PACKED WITH INTEREST KUPE, July (i. j Expeetantly looking forward to thoir j first aight of New Zealand for two years I troops of the lirst returning draft this moniing left Japan probably forever. Tho C-hitral's gaiigway was down soou after dawn and an liour later the ll"i,;>5(i ton 21 year old Pando liner swung from tho wharf ou her eourse through tho island dotted Inland Sea. >She is expeeted to arrive-at Wellington about July 22 or 23. There will be oue port of eall — Guam — for water but not for leave. Threo speeial troop trains, after Iravelling most of tho night thongh tho New Zealand aroa, arrived at lvure earlv yesterday morning. Tlie men wero transportcd by trueks over rutted roads and past. blasted buildings to tlie wharf, The embarkation of tho mon and baggage went .without a Jiitch. Tlic draft consists of 1960 inoliiding, 15 uursing sisters and .10 V.A.D.s aiul aro drawn mainly from Ihe 13th Eeinforcenionts. Brigadier K. T,. Stewart who has just liandeil ovor tho eoiiunandj to Brigadier L. Potter, is among Ihose, returning. The Chitral, which has hot. weathori accommodation for moro than 3000 isl not crowded and each troop deck has prdjror t iJnaf**sp tt fe fijoni; " TVlD'the me2T sleep in bunks and hammocks. The' deck space is greatcr than that of tho! Enapiro Pride. The first day's meals: wero described as excellent. " [ Dcsjiite early difficulties oi' scttliugj in and later the occasional monot.ony, most of the men' agreod that their, uiontlis in Japan wero packed with in ■' Lcrest and had passed quickiy. Fowi wero leluctant to exchunge the summer heat and humidity of Japan for tho: chance of even the worst New Zealand m i dwi n tor; t'ew disagreed that the best about tlic Chitral was that "shc point ! ed in the right directiou.'"