EMPIRE FORCE IN KOREA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27435, 23 August 1954, Page 11

EMPIRE FORCE IN KOREA

Two-Thjrds Cut Planned (N-Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p-m.) LONDON, August 21. The Commonwealth countries with troops in Korea are considering plans for the scaling-down of the Commonwealth Division. Announcing this at a press conference after the Commonwealth military talks at Camberley, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (Field-Marshal Sir John Harding) said the British reduction of manpower would, in proportion, compare with the twothirds reduction being made by the Americans. “A tactical formation which, I hope, will retain the Commonwealth Division’s identity, will remain in Korea,” he said. The equivalent Of the United Kingdom troops thus freed would return to Britain to be used in building up “our strategical reserves.” It would not necessarily mean that troops removed from the division would be brought back to this country, he explained. utefli Sir John Harding said that Commonwealth military leaders had drawn up a plan and presented it to their respective governments for the reduction of the Commonwealth Division in Korea to the smallest possible force which could still be useful tactically. It was now up to the govvernments concerned to make the decision to reduce the division, consisting of United Kingdom, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand troops. From the British Army’s point of view, the sooner troops could be withdrawn from Korea to build up the strategic reserve at home, the better, Sir John Harding added.