FIRST ISSUE
  This is the first issue of "Chota Roundup." Its purpose is to carry on the same policies of the old "Roundup" in a smaller, or "chota" manner. In other words, for the uninitiated, "chota" means "small" or "little" in Hindi.
  This initial edition may represent a hodge-podge of Indian-British-American journalism which is the result of haste caused by the move from New Delhi to Calcutta.
  At any rate, we hope you like "Chota Roundup," and we're always open for suggestions and criticisms. So read on at your leisure. - Ed.
Chota Roundup Vol. I    CALCUTTA   APRIL 18, 1946    No. 1
I-B Strength To 6,087 After Hersey Sails
 Chota Roundup Article

  The India-Burma Theater will open the month of May with its strength down to about 6,087 after the sailing of the last full troop-ship from Calcutta, the General Hersey, on or about April 22.
  After the General Hersey leaves, further troopships in May will carry only partial loads from India, filling out their passenger lists at Shanghai and Manila en route to the States.
  Latest reports on the Hersey indicate that it will arrive and King George Docks on either the 20 or 21st of April and sail about April 22.
  The Marine Panther is now scheduled to depart Calcutta for San Francisco about May 2, with the Marine Adder following it on May 6.
  Theater strength April 1 was 12,350. The departure of the General Sturgis brought the figure down to 9,115. The Hersey will reduce Theater strength to 6,087.
  No definite date has as yet been set for the third ship in May which is expected to clear the Theater completely except for the residual detachment.
  Quotas for the shipment of men to Replacement Depot Number Three from April 16 to April 25 still remain the same as announced in Roundup last week. Theater spokesmen again emphasized they are straining every effort to have as many men as possible released in order to sail on the Panther.
  As stated by Roundup last week, all commanders have been ordered to review their personnel needs about April 18 with an eye toward releasing more men for whom there is no strict military necessity. Commands may obtain increases in their quotas for release promptly upon application to Theater Headquarters.

AAF ATOM TEST'S BOSS AND STAFF
Brig. Gen. Roger M. Raney (seated), in command of AAF units which will participate in the atomic bomb experiments at Bikini Atoll, is shown with members of his staff at Roswell, N.M. (left to right) Col. A. F. Kalberer, Col. William Blanchard, and Col. Paul W. Tibbets.

Headquarters Moving Day
Arouses Calcutta Area
 Chota Roundup Article

  Colonels and stenographers alike walked around Calcutta with puzzled, searching looks this week as many U.S. Army installations in the city experienced "Moving Day," while several other well-known GI landmarks gave up the ghost of American occupancy.
  Most hectic spot was the Hindusthan Building, where Base Section Headquarters squeezed itself into two floors in order to make room for Theater Headquarters, which completed its move from New Delhi.
  Simultaneously, Base Section Headquarters enlisted personnel moved from Camp Maidan to Camp Dakhuria, transferring their old Chowringhee home to the British.
  Camp Howrah also bid adieu to American personnel this week, while Camp Knox converted into the "permanent home" of the Graves Registration Service. Camp Hooghly is scheduled to go next week.
  The GI ice cream plant also closed its doors recently. However, Base Section Quartermaster said there were sufficient reserve stocks on hand to permit issuance of ice cream four times a week to Calcutta-area mess halls.
  British mechanics took over the maintenance of remaining American vehicles at the Dufferin Road repair shop.
  Base Section plans call for centralization of all office work into the Hindusthan Building and of all supply stocks at the Brooklyn Warehouse. The Victoria Memorial Swimming Pool and ARC's Burra Club will continue to be leisure-time centers for GI's until at least May 15. Major surplus property collecting points handed over to the British this week included Tezgaon, Karachi and Sukkur.


HAPPY EASTER!
We hope you'll forgive the overdose of clothing here but we had to have something appropriate for this Easter week. Anyhoo, we think Mimi Berry will do okay, huh?
GOOD DEAL

  The Army comes to all those who stand and wait, even in India.
  When the General Sturgis sailed for home last Monday it had aboard 12 men with 12 points apiece. The men had been civilian technicians over here during the war and were inducted a little before V-J Day.
  Eleven of the men are privates and the other, Edwin Fneed, is a corporal. Pvt. Ben L. White had been a civilian technician in the I-B for three years before the Army draft board got him.
  Some of the men served in the Medics during their brief service with the Army and all were processed through the Dum Dum Replacement Depot for reassignment at reception centers once they get home.



SQUARE GARDEN CLOSES DOORS

  The curtain went down Monday evening on the drama of Monsoon Square Garden.
  After 20 months of operation, the biggest sports arena in the I-BT saw its final event. It was a dance sponsored by the Red Cross Burra Club and 500 GI's and their dates danced to the music of "Buster's Gang" from Bengal Air Depot. Bahoot cokes were the drink of the evening.
  A good time climaxed a great institution. Monsoon Square Garden, a Special Service development on property owned by the Indian Skating Club, is now being returned to that group.


Sturgis Sails For New York With All-Man Passenger List
  By Sgt. CHET HOLCOMBE
  Roundup Ex-Editor

  It was entirely a man's ship that cast off early Tuesday morning for New York. There were 3,250 passengers aboard the General Sturgis - and not a woman among them.
  Capt. D. S. Baker, commander of the ship, being unavailable, Comdr. L. H. Rankin, executive officer, talked to the Chota Roundup, telling us about conditions aboard troopships and what we all are to expect as we move homewards. And it wasn't too bad.
  He said that the General Sturgis and the General Hersey, which is due to sail also for New York this weekend, would each take about 27 days through the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic - right to that lighted beacon held so proudly aloft by that lovely lady, the Statue of Liberty at New York.
  Rankin, in civilian life an instructor in chemistry at San Mateo Junior College, California, has been in the Navy since 1940 and expects this to be his last trip. He taught at the Naval Academy at Annapolis for two and a half years, and then was assigned to an APA (assault transport), seeing action in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands landings. The Sturgis was commissioned in July, 1944, at San Francisco, and this was her first trip to the I-BT. Before that she plied Pacific waters.

CROWDED CONDITIONS
  "There are still the same crowded conditions aboard troopships," Rankin declared. "Although the
TEN HOURS AT 10 BELOW
Charges that the Russians have taken all the good rolling stock from Manchuria seem sunstantiated by the above photo showing Chinese on their way back to their homes in Mukden riding on top of cars in 10 degree below zero temperature. This and other looting by the Soviets have brought notes of protest from the U.S.
Navy buys the food for the ships and gets the best, it is not prepared up to the best Navy standards because of our acute shortage of trained cooks, butchers and helpers. Seamen have been taken off the decks and assigned to the galleys."
  "However, we serve three meals a day to the enlisted men and officers. While the officers are served on china plates with tablecloths and the GI's stand up and eat from trays, the officers' food is no better - in fact I doubt if it's as good."
  The executive officer said that the rapid demobilization has brought its problems to the Navy as well as the Army. "In foreign ports of call," he asserted, "we have little trouble in servicing the ship and getting necessary supplies. But at home ports the shortage of trained ship and shore personnel delays our sailings and mars our efficiency. Before we sailed on this trip, we lost a good 50 percent of our best men."
  Each person aboard will be able to see a movie every four days, while regular Armed Forces Radio Service recorded entertainment will be presented over loud speakers, and a daily mimeographed newspaper will be issued. Other entertainment, such as boxing, stage shows, indoor games and band concerts will be provided. Men are being allowed to sleep on decks at night, and smoking is permitted.
  Roundup's reporter looked below to see that same four-tier-high canvas bunks prevailing. But there were electric fans everywhere, and there was a cold water fountain on the deck. All men went aboard in fatigues.
  All in all, the men were a happy bunch. They were going home.


China Clashes In Manchuria

  CHUNGKING - (UP) - The war in China continued to blaze this week as an estimated 30,000 Communists virtually surrounded the small Nationalist garrison in Chungchun, capital of Manchuria, and focal point of the Chinese Civil War. Government troops in retaliation were fighting desperately in an effort to crash through the Communist defense southwest of Chungchun and so advance along the Mukden-Chungchun Railroad to the capital.
  In an attempt to alleviate the impending crisis, General Chiang Kai-shek intervened directly today and instructed the Steering Committee of the Political Consultative Conference to test for a frank discussion of the political headaches. Chiang demanded a speed up of the program calling for a reorganization of the Government to include Communist and other minor party elements and thus avert political tension and disaster.


BURRA  CLUB  DOINGS

  Calcutta's American Red Cross "Burra Club" will celebrate Easter Day - this Sunday - with the time-honored Easter egg hunt. The egg hunting will feature an Easter party at the club beginning at 10 a.m. Every enlisted man in town is invited.
  A special Saturday night show will be presented at the club at 8:30 p.m. A variety program under the direction of Haren Ghosh is scheduled. It is billed as a fast-moving, entertaining show for free.
  Here's Burra Club's program for the weekend:
  Today: 7:30 p.m. Concert hour; 8 p.m. Blind Date show; 8:30 p.m. Burra Cabana dinner-dance; 9:30 p.m. coffee nitecap.
  Tomorrow, Friday: 10:30 a.m. Jain Temple Tour and Burning Ghats; 1:30 p.m. Symphony request time; 2 p.m. Marble Palace tour; 3:30 p.m. Tea-Swing time; 8 p.m. movies; 8 p.m. music of the masters; 9:30 p.m. Coffee nitecap.
  Saturday: 10:30 a.m. Jain Temple tour and Burning Ghats; 1:30 p.m. Symphony request time; 3:30 p.m. Twilight Kali Temple Tour and Burning Ghats; 3:30 p.m. Tea-Swing. Magic Time; 7:30 p.m. concert hour; 8:30 p.m. Haren Ghosh present variety show; 9:30 p.m. Coffee nitecap.
  Sunday: 10 a.m. Easter party at the club.


The Chota Roundup is a weekly newspaper of the United States Forces, published by and for the men in the India-Burma Theater for news and pictures supplied by staff members, soldier correspondents, and United Press. Chota Roundup is printed every Thursday by The Statesman in Calcutta, India. Editorial matter should be sent directly to the Editor, Sgt. E. Gartly Jaco, Hq., USF, IBT, APO 885, New York, N.Y. and should arrive not later than Saturday in order to be included in the following week's issue. Pictures must arrive by Friday and must be negatives or enlargements.









APRIL  18,  1946  

Original issue of Chota Roundup shared by CBI Veteran Douglas MacLeod

Copyright © 2009 Carl Warren Weidenburner






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