IMPROVEMENT IN ACCOMMODATION

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 6

IMPROVEMENT IN ACCOMMODATION

2ND ECHELON TROOPS IN ENGLAND ELABORATE PROGRAMME OF SPORTS (From Official War Correspondent) ENGLAND, September 28. The majority of the troops of the 2nd Echelon are comfortably accommodated in billets near their forward base which is in southern England. Some of them are living in vacant houses, others m the parish hall, barns, lofts, coasthouses, apple-sheds, unused stables, other farm buildings and in hop-pickers huts. When the force first took up a position in the field, it bivouacked as had been customary on training exercises, but when orders were received for an indefinite stay in the front line area, it was made a first consideration to get all ranks under shelter, because, though the weather was unbroken, the autumn was hurrying on. The nights are already much colder, and occasionally showery. Everyone has been placed under cover within a few days. Those not immediately billeted are being provided with tents. Since then, there has been a progressive improvement, both by the transfer of tented units to billets and by moving those already in poor billets to better ones. , As when camping in the open, the men have shown commendable initiative in making the most of the quarters available. Owners and tenants of premises have been uniformly generous and helpful. Units and sub-units are rather wid ’ - distributed, but there is safety in diffusion when death is unleashed from the sky. The signals branch maintains a complete system of communication by land-line and wireless. Organized winter sport in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the United Kingdom began this week. The force has been divided for purposes of inter-group competitions in Rugby football, soccer, hockey, athletics, harriers, basketball, boxing, wrestling, swimming and diving, for which tepid baths are available, but first there will be preliminary competitions within the groups. , . , u Infantry battalions, for instance, each of which forms one group, have begun inter-company games from players in the battalion. Teams then form players in inter-group fixtures which start the week after next. New Zealand Army teams will be selected at least in Rugby football and hockey. The Rugby selectors will be Bishop Gerard, Lieutenant R. E. M. King, and Company Sergeant Major Frank Solomon. IMPORTANCE OF SPORT Major General Freyberg attaches great importance to sport as a means of keeping the troops fit, especially when their military training has been so far advanced as that of the 2nd Echelon now is. The daily work programme at present provides for a minimum of four and a-half hours’ drill, including two hours’ marching, with organized games filling the balanci of the day. It has been laid down, and is repeatedly emphasized, that the purpose of the sport is to cater for all, and that all must have regular opportunity for competitive play, even though the standard may not be high. In Rugby especially, much interest and enthusiasm will attend the selection and the performances of the New Zealand team. Nevertheless, it is regarded officially as of only secondary importance in the winter’s activities. Since the men themselves are equally anxious to keep fit, many will play more than on- sport, and the competition programme has been spread over a week to permit this. It is intended that the New Zealand teams should be selected by the end of October, and in the last week of that month, to hold an athletic sports meeting, a boxing and wrestling tournament, and a swimming and diving carnival.