DEMOBILISATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1944, Page 6

DEMOBILISATION

BRITAIN’S GENERAL SCHEME. RUGBY, September 21. • There will bd” no general demobilisation of Britain’s armed forces until the total defeat of the Axis Powers, including Japan, throughout the world. There will, nevertheless, be a partial release when Germany is defeated and a reallocation of manpower between the services and industry.' The needs of the latter will be mainly, concerned with housing. Meanwhile, the call-up of men to the forces will be continued. A war gratuity scheme is to be announced. . ... These are the main points from a Government White Paper setting out the scheme for demobilisation. The underlying principle is that general demobilisation, either of the armed forces or war industry, cannot take place until the end of thp war against the Axis Powers and their total defeat throughout the world, therefore mobilisation of the manpower of the nanon will have to continue until the war, including the subjugation of Japan, is finished. With the defeat of Germany the country will pass to’a new phase of the war but the interim period must be subject to overriding military needs. These will govern the extent of releases from the forces, but taking the services as a whole it is anticipated it will be possible to reallocate manpower on a substantial scale between the three services and industry. Military needs will also govern the volume of munitions and other essential production. While I this will decrease during the interim period, requirements will sail be very large and there is no doubt, until well after the end of the war against Japan, there will be a shortage of labour in this country. During the interim period the callup of men to the forces will be continued, while at the same time men and women will be released from the forces for return to industry. The release from the forces is intended to be on two distinct bases, firstly, age > and length of service basis. The number of men so released will correspond to the reduction in strength of the forces and will be increased | in consequence of the calling-up of ’ new recruits. They will be released ; in turn, as determined by the two < factors of age and length of war ser- - vice, except that men of 50 and over will be treated as a priority class to be released if they so desire. Secondly, men needed to assist in the reconstruction of the country pre? paratory to general demobilisation after the war will be transferred out of turn from 'the forces to industry. No man will be forced to leave the forces and any man due for release will be able, if he wishes, to volunteer for a further period of service. The release of Class A men (age and length of service class) will begin as soon as is practicable after the end of the European war. The transfer of Class B men (reconstruction employments) will not beffin t”'l- - a start is made with men in Class A. Class A released men win plaged in a special reserve from which they will be recalled only in extreme emergency. Class B men. will be placed to reserves from which i they will be recalled if they discon- | tinue reconstruction employment. i Arrangements for release and transfer will apply to the Women’s Auxiliary Services in the same way as to men in the forces, except that ■ married women will be treated as a priority class. A similar scheme for the redistribution of manpower be- ■ tween civilian employments is beingworked out.