New Zealand Troops In New

Caledonia

Interesting Development of South Pacific War Situation

From Our Own Correspondent

Noumea, Nov. 27.

THE arrival in New Caledonia of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific releases more United States manpower for the Solomons and puts into effective operation the policy announcements made by Lieut.-General E. Puttick, CB, DSO, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, in commenting on the recent statement by the NZ Minister for Defence regarding the United States command of the New Zealand forces. • “From the moment the United States assumed responsibility for the Pacific it was recognised that unless that responsi bility included New Zealand itself there was a risk of divided control,” General Puttick said. “For example, the danger of attack on New Zealand depended very largely on the United States’ naval plan for the Pacific and upon the army and air forces stationed on various Pacific islands and their ability to mutually support each other. Only the United States commander of the Pacific area could gauge the effect of these measures on the defence of New Zealand, and obvi ously the strength of the forces required to be maintained in New Zealand depended very largely on appreciation of these factors.

"The commander of the South Pacific area, in which New Zealand is situated, was obviously in the best position to form that appreciation. He was in a position to make requests to the NZ Government for forces to be employed in the area, basing his request on the general military situation. It would be for the NZ Gov ernment, after reviewing all the factors, including manpower and other civil as well as military factors, to decide whether his requests could be acceeded to."

The training of the New Zealand forces remains a New Zealand responsi bility, although obviously any special training required to fit the troops for a particular role —and especially if co operation with United States troops is involved—will be discussed with the United States Command. Close co-opera tion has been maintained with the United States commanders of those forces which, in an emergency, would have an operational role in New Zealand home defence forces, under New Zealand command.

A considerable quantity of United States training manuals has been made available for the New Zealand forces.

The training and equipment of New

Zealand troops is almost entirely British, although large numbers of United States tommy-guns, rifles, machine-guns, veh icles, tanks and a few heavy guns have been supplied. Various factors, such as the role of New Zealand troops, whether independent or otherwise, and the time factor, will determine whether any of them will make increased use of United States equipment.

From the outset there has been close co-operation and consultation with the local United States command, which always has been invited to ask New Zea land for any assistance required, and a good deal has been done, General Put tick said, in that direction.

“Co-operation and co-ordination” was discussed with the United States Com mand in New Caledonia when the New Zealand Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Peter Fraser) and his staff passed through Noumea about the beginning of August, bound for Washington. A more recent visitor to New Caledonia has been Lieut.- General Puttick.

The satisfactory nature of the basis of co-operation agreed upon is stressed by

the respective commanders and staffs in New Caledonia: and fraternisation among all ranks of both forces is a pleasant fea ture of the island’s present existence.

In fact, the friendly relations that existed between the Americans and the small but highly specialised and efficient Australian commando troops that were established in this island when the United States Army arrived in March 12 last, is repeating itself with the New Zealanders.

To speak of a United Nations effort in the Pacific is indeed no idle phrase, for every American knows that every Aus tralian and every New Zealander is just as ready to defend democratic civilisa tion and spill his blood if need be in smashing the Japanese as he is himself.

In such circumstances co-operation is a pleasure, presenting no difficulties that goodwill and reason cannot speedily over come.

It was in this spirit that the New Zea landers last week took the opportunity of saying “Haere Mai”—Maori for “Hail!” —at a dinner they tendered to the prin cipal United States Army officers, which was also attended by Mr. Coates (mem ber of NZ War Cabinet) and by the French Governor, Henri Montchamp, and some of his officials. I am sure the censor will allow me to say that the din ner struck just the right note.

Miss A. Uppill, of the Methodist Mis sion, returned to her work in Fiji in November, after spending some time in Australia.