AMERICANS IN FAR EAST

Evening Star, Issue 25684, 7 January 1946, Page 5

AMERICANS IN FAR EAST

WITHDRAWAL FROM S.E.A.C. INTEGRATED COMMAND NO LONGER ESSENTIAL (Itec. 12.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 6. The combined chiefs of staff, composed of the British and American High Commands, stated that since the participation of the United States forces in India and Burma has ended and the United States does not envisage participation in future operations incidental to the disarmament of Japanese troops and the restoration of civil Government in territories under the South-east Asia Command, the combined chiefs of staff consider it no longer necessary from a military point of view for Rear-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten to retain a fully integrated British and American headquarters. Therefore the United States representation at S.E.A.C. will henceforth be limited to inter-theatre liaison.

The Associated Press points out that the announcement is significant, in view of the current strife in the East Indies, and adds that no American combat forces have been in S.E.A.C. since June, when the Japanese were driven from Rangoon. American troops never moved south of Mandalay, and British troops far outnumbered the even at the peak of the campaign against the Japanese.