ALLIED FORCES IN JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25090, 23 January 1947, Page 7

ALLIED FORCES IN JAPAN

STRENGTH MAY BE REDUCED AMERICAN AND BRITISH TROOPS (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) TOKYO, Jan. 21. Authoritative sources report-that the Allied occupation strength soon will be reduced. The exact figures are not disclosed, but the United States' strength will be substantially reduced and the British forces from 38.000 to 32.000. Most of those returning will be New Zealanders and Australians. FUTURE OF J FORCE EARLY DECISION EXPECTED Although no official advice could be obtained in Wellington last evening, it was learned from a reliable source that the future of J Force has not yet been decided by the New Zealand Government. It was suggested that the cable message had been mutilated in transmission, and that "returning” should have read “remaining.” At the moment there is no intention of withdrawing the New Zealand section of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, although the men now in Japan will be released at the end of their period of engagement. It is expected that the question of New Zealand’s J Force will be discussed at early meetings of the Cabinet and the Defence Council. Indicative of the Government’s intention that J Force should remain in Japan for some time yet was the announcement this week that certain candidates for permanent Army commissions would receive a short course at Trentham and then go to Japan to obtain experience in army field administration.