TWELVE MONTHS IN JAPAN

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 404, 21 March 1947, Page 6

TWELVE MONTHS IN JAPAN

New Zealand’s Part in the Occupation

(Special to

"The Listener"

from the Official Correspondent with

the "J" Force)

N heavy sain and the bitter temperatures of midwinter, late in March, 1946, the 4,000 officers and mien of 2nd N.Z.E.F. (Japan) passed by train through the outskirts of the ruin of Hiroshima and through the dreariness of a devastated countryside to establish their units in the Yamaguchi prefecture. Within two days of arrival the force had taken over the duties of occupation from American and, Australian units. Many Japanese were reported to have taken to the hills and back-country when they heard the new troops to be stationed in the area were New Zealanders. Twelve months have now passed. In that year more than 2,000 square miles of country have been patrolled and the activities of the 1,400,000 inhabitants closely directed and controlled. More than 400,000 Japanese and Koreans have passed through the two repatriation centres at Otake and Senzaki. But by no means all the energy and initiative of the force have been given to the supervision of a civilian population; equally onerous has. been the work, often against difficulty, of making conditions at first habitable and then comfortable, of increasing that comfort in every way. Initial Difficulties When the troops from Italy landed at Kure, in still another foreign land, there was in New Zealand a vigorous campaign for recruits to replace them. The relief force entered camp in March; in late May the first draft, and a few weeks later the second, sailed from New Zealand. Neither the tasks of occupation nor of settling the troops in comfort was helped by the inevitable confusion

and disorganisation caused by the replacement of all otheg ranks and nearly all officers. Moreover, in September and October and again in January and February, about 500 officers and men were attached to the Composite New Zealand Guard Battalions which carried out training at Mizuba and duties in Tokio. Japanese who had taken to the hills because of the reputation attributed to New Zealanders by wartime propaganda

wvere not long in returning. The Kiwis, the civilian population quickly realised, were good soldiers: they were interested in the country and friendly towards its people; their treatment was fair and their discipline high. One of the first duties of the force was the demilitarisation of the area. Infantry and motor patrols, covering thousands of square miles, have been made in the collection of war equipment and supplies. To-day it is unlikely that anything of importance is undiscovered. Repatriation of Japanese troops and civilians from overseas and of Koreans returning to their homeland has now ended, and the supervising of the process by New Zealand troops has ended with it. In all, more than 400,000 Japanese and Koreans have passed through the repatriation centres, giving full-time duty to two companies and to hundreds of men who were needed as train guards.

Although such epidemic diseases as cholera had been rife, there was not one case among New Zealand troops--a tribute to the high standard of discipline and medical control. Because of the vigilance of a strong naval task force and the bitter winter conditions, the illegal smuggling of Koreans into Japan along the northwest coast of the New Zealand area has ceased. Earlier, this smuggling was a . major problem; the average number of Koreans entering the area each week was about 1,500 and at one time 4,300 illegal immigrants were impounded in the centre at Senzaki. To ensure the safety of the ships’ Japanese crews it was necessary for two large drafts of Koreans to be accompanied to Korea by heavily-armed New Zealand guards. Widespread disease increased the problem. Justice with Dignity Essential to an efficient and orderly running of the prefecture is the Military Provost Court, the commission responsible for the hearing of offences (against the occupation forces) such as blackmarketing, theft, and disobedience of military directives. This provost court, headed by a permanent president, is the only legal check readily available to the force, and everything is done to ensure the greatest justice and dignity. In the nine months of the court’s operationsit sits alternately in the two larger cities, Shimonoseki and Yamaguchiabout 330 charges have been heard; sentences have varied from four years’ imprisonment and heavy fines for disobedience of directives, to deferred sentences and probation for young people convicted of less serious offences. However trivial the charge, an officer is always available to defend all accused or, (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) if it is wished, Japanese counsel may appear. Children’s sessions similar to those held in New Zealand have recently been held and here the aim is to reform rather than to punish. Most of the charges heard in the Provost Court are the results of patrols, black-market raids, and inspections carried out by troops often working with civilian police (from whom the greatest co-operation has always been obtained). Efficient Education Service In an interview after a two-day inspection of Chofu and Yamaguchi units, their work, accommodation, and amenities, the Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General H. C. H. Robertson, said that he considered the most impressive part of the New Zealand organisation was the Army Education Service; it was, he said, far ahead of that of the other components. It was a particularly gratifying tribute. The two relief drafts which in June and August of last year replaced the original force fron: Italy vere made up of men of an average age of between 20 and 22 years; at the time of their enlistment,many of them had not finished either their trade apprenticeships or their university courses, nor had they firmly established a basis for a lifetime career. For such men a comprehensive and efficient education service is especially important; and in the twelve months of its operation in Japan the A.E.S. has built an organisation well qualified to meet the needs of the force, For occupation troops, Japan is a country with limited opportunity for ‘kisure-time interests outside the army: contact with the civilian population is restricted by languege difficulty, econ-

omic circumstances, and fraternisation directions; social life is practically nil; travel difficult. With the A.E.S., consequently, emphasis has been divided between formal and informal education: there are the university and trade courses, the practical instruction and personal tuitjon needed for examinations, and, equally important, the libraries, hobby huts, music classes, camera clubs, young farmers’ clubs, end young businessmen’s clubs. On the roll for formal education are nearly 1,500 names, a high proportion with a force of about 4,000; with the informal activities nearly every man in the force is concerned. Perhaps greatest progress has been made with amenities. More than £8,000 has already been spent, a large amount for so small a force, but a start had to be made from scratch. Furniture has been installed, attractive canteens established, local summer camps organised, a New Zealand radio station opened,

six fine yachts built and a sailing club formed, theatres opened; and Y.M.C.A. huts: and clubs made available. Large quantities of sports gear, ranging from ping-pong sets to skis, have been bought, and everything done to encourage the playing of sport both indoors and out. Canteen issues of Japanese goods, reasonably priced, have been made, and gift shops opened. Opportunity to see something of the other areas of Japan is given to every man when his turn comes to spend a leave period at one of the first-class hostels-at Beppu, centre of Japan's most noted thermal area; Kyoto, oldtime capital and present-day cultural and artistic centre; Nikkau, famed for its temples, shrines, and mountain scenery; Tokio, greatest city of Japan; and Kobe, a few miles from the city of Osaka. In addition, about 1,000 men. have travelled to Tokio with the two guard.

battalions, and in a month in which leave has been generous they have seen for themselves the first city of Japan and one of the greater cities of the world. In the New Zealanders’ first 12 months in Japan the inescapable routine of occupation has been enlivened by many events-some unexpected, others unwelcome. There was that almost. unbearable summer with humidity often as high as temperature, with continual mosquitoes and countless inoculations as an accompaniment to the heat. There vas a complete replacement of the whole New Zealand force. At times there have been shortages and the difficulties of meeting themn. In September there was a typhoon warning and a "disaster plan" to meet it; fortunately the New Zealand area suffered only the lick of the tail of that high wind, with no damage excep: at the repatriation centre at Otake. In November came voting in the General Election, in which 4,029 personnel out of an estimated total of 4,500 (including the 14th N.Z. Fighter Squadron), filled in ballot papers (a fairly high percentage of the men were under 21 years, but had the right to vote because they were serving overseas; one man whose "army age" was 18 would not have been antitled to vote as a civilian in New Zealand until the election of 1952). , There was, too, the first Christmas in Japan for Néw Zealand troops; for most of the men their first Christmas overseas and their first celebrated in winter. And to end the Old Year with sensation was a major earthquake which, again fortunately, was no more than a shake in the New Zealand area and which caused no damage. There have been all the sports meetings and interunit matches, with the added interest of inter-component competition and rivalry. And in February the New Zealanders again travelled to Tokio for guard duty: for the second time our troops saw Tokio and Tokio saw them; the interest was mutual and equally keen. The photographs which appear on these pages, and on our front cover, were supplied by ‘the Information Section of the’ Prime Minister’s Department.