J-FORCE COMMANDER

Evening Star, Issue 25769, 16 April 1946, Page 8

J-FORCE COMMANDER

THE NEW APPOINTMENT CAREER OF GENERAL ROBERTSON (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 15 The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, issued to-day a statement concerning the appointment of the new Com-mander-in-Chief of the British Commonwealth Force of Occupation in Japan. Statements in similar terms are being made to-day in London, Canberra, and New Delhi. " With the concurrence of the British Commonwealth Governments concerned," said Mr Fraser, " Temporary Lieutenant-general H. C. H. Robertson, Australian Military Forces, has been appointed Commander - in - Chief 8.C.0.F., in Japan, in succession to Lieutenant-general J. Northcott, whose appointment to another post (the Governorship of New South Wales), has already been announced. " General Robertson's war record includes the following important commands: Darwin Garrison. 1939-40; Infantry Brigade in North Africa in the advance to Benghazi, 1940; First Australian Armoured Division and other divisions in Australia; Western Command in Australia; Fifth Division in the New Guinea operations against Rabaul; Sixth Division in the final operations against Wewak; and First Australian Army in New Guinea (from December, 1945). He was awarded the D.S.O. in the 1914-18 war, and the C.B.E. in North Africa "

MEN ON FINAL LEAVE

AUCKLAND, April 15. Final leave for the members of the J-Foree, who have been training in the Papakura military camp for service with the New Zealand contingent of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, began to-day when a small draft of men, whose homes are most distant, left by train for their destinations. Final leave for the men of J-Force generally will coincide with normal Easter leave. The final draft of men needed to bring the North, Island quota up to strength is due to enter camp at the end of the month There is still a general shortage of officers and noncommissioned officers throughout the force, and as a result, many who are now serving in Japan are being asked to volunteer to stay on for a'further six months