LOSS OF ARMY COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25091, 24 January 1947, Page 7

LOSS OF ARMY COMMISSION

PROTEST BY MAJOR COUSENS DECISION TO PETITION GOVERNOR-GENERAL (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 23. After a long conference with his lawyers. Major Charles Hughes Cou*ens has decided to petition the Gover-nor-General to revoke the Military Board’s cancellation of his Army commission. Before making the decision, he said that he and his wife had been shocked by the Army ruling, and were determined to fight it if possible. After leaving his lawyers, Major Cousens went to Army Headquarters to complete his Army discharge formalities. He said he could not state exactly what he had lost through* the cancellation of his commission?* although his personal loss in fighting the treason charge in Court was £6OOO. He intended to try to recover part of this from the Government Former senior officers of the Bth Australian Division to-day protested against the Military Board’s decision and will demand a full explanation. Authorities state that cancellation of Major Couaens’s commission will entail a loss of £450 in cash to mm. including his war gratuity, re-establish-ment and war service leave pay. as well as many benefits offered to servicemen. U.S. Pacific Fleet Command*r—Admiral Louis E. Denfleld. Chief of Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, will succeed Admiral John Towers as commander of the Pacific fleet on March 1. Admiral Towers has been appointed chairman of the Navy General Board—Washington, January 22.