JAPAN FORCE PLAN ANNOUNCED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21935, 1 February 1946, Page 2

JAPAN FORCE PLAN ANNOUNCED

TROOPS TO ARRIVE THERE IN MARCH

FULL MILITARY CONTROL OF HIROSHIMA

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 1. The aeting-Prime Minister, Mr. W. Nash, announced last night that agreement has now been reached between the Commonwealth Governments concerned and the United States’ Government concerning the participation of the British Commonwealth force in the occupation of Japan. Mr. Nash released the following statement, which is also beingreleased simultaneously by the Governments of the United Kingdom, Autralia and India, while a similar announcement is beingmade in Washington and by General MacArthur in Tokyo. “As a result of discussions between members of the British Commonwealth, proposals for the joint British Commonwealth force to participate in the occupation of Japan were agreed upon and conveyed to the United States Government by the Australian Government acting on behalf of the British Commonwealth Governments concerned. “Following recent representations in Washington by the Australian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. 11. V. Evatt, the United States Government has now formally accepted the participation of the British Commonwealth force in the occupation of Japan.”

“Arrangements are now well advanced for the force to proceed, on the following basis: The force is drawn from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and India. The_ comman-der-in-chief of the force is LieutenantGeneral J Northcott, C. 8., M.V.0., of the Australian Military Forces. ■ His headquarters is fully integrated with representatives drawn from each service, and from each commonwealth country contributing to the force. Air Commodore F. M. Bladin. C.8.E., of the R.A.A.F., has been appointed Chief of Staff to General Northcott. “The force comprises, first, force and base troops drawn from each of the contributing countries; secondly, a land component,'organised as corps of one British-Indian division and two independent. brigade groups, one each from Australia and New Zealand; thirdly, an air component comprising squadrons drawn from the R.A.F., R.A.A.F., R.N.Z.A.F.. and Royal Indian Air Force. British Fleet Squadron

“A squadron of the British Pacific Fleet, which includes ships of the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Indian Navy, is stationed in Pacific waters under the operational control of the admiral commanding a detachment of the United States Fleet. “The British-Indian Division is commanded by Major-General D., T. Cowan. C. 8., D. 5.0.. M.C.. Indian Army, and includes the Fifth Brigade of the Second British Division and the 268th Indian Infantry Brigade. “The Australian Infantry Brigade Group includes the 34th Australian Infantry Brigade commanded by Brigadier R.'h. Nimmo, while the commander of the New Zealand Brigade, which is coming from Italy, is Brigadier K. L. Stewart, C.8.E., D.S.O. “The commander of the air component is Air Vice-Marshal C. A. Bouchier. C. 8.. C.8.E., D.F.C.. R.A.F. His senior air staff officer is Air Commodore I. D. McLaughlan, D.F.C.. R.A.A.F. Access to High Command

“The air component includes No. 81 Australian Fighter Wing, consisting of No. 3 (Mustang) Fighter Squadron and No. 11 and No. 17 (Spitfire) Squadrons, No. 96 (Medium Transport) Squadron, R..A.F.. No. 4 (Spitfire) Squadron, R.1.A.F., and No. 14 (Corsair) Squadron. R.N.Z.A.F. “The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (8.C.0.F.) will form part of the occupation forces in Japan under the supreme command of General MacArthur. He has assigned the land component to the general operational control of the commanding general of the Eighth United States Army, who is in military control of the whole area of Janan.

“The air comnonent has been assigned lo the general operational control of the commanding general of the Pacific Air Command of the United States Army.

“General Northcott, as Commander-in-Chief. 8.C.0.F.. is entirely responsible for the maintenance and administration of the British Commonwealth Force as a whole. He has direct access to General MacArthur on matters of major policy affecting the operational commitments of the force.

“On pnliev and administrative matters affecting the force the Com-mander-in-Chief is responsible to the British Commonwealth Governments concerned through a British Commonwealth organisation set up in Melbourne and known as the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Australia. Their instructions to the Commnnder-in-Chief. 8.C.0.F., will he issued by the Australian Chiefs of Staff. The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Australia C.T.C.0.5.A.) comprise the Australian Chiefs of Staff and representatives of the Chiefs of Staff of the United Kingdom. New Zealand, and the Comman-der-in-Chief, India.

“This organisation is fully associated with the Australian joint _ service machinery. The Commrnder-in-Chief. 8.C.0.F., has the right of direct communication with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Australia on administrative matters affecting the force. On matters of Governmental concern affecting policy and the operations of the 8.C.0.F. he will communicate through J.C.O.S.A. to the Australian Government, which acts as the representative of the other Commonwealth Governments concerned. "The 8.C.0.F. will initially be located

in Hiroshima Prefecture,, including the cities of Kure and Fukuyama. It will be responsible for the demilitarisation and disposal of Japanese installations and armaments, and for exercising military control of the area but not for its military government, which remains the responsibility of United States agencies. Disposal of Installations “The 8.C.0.F. area will not constitute a national zone. The 8.C.0.F. may be called upon to conduct military operations outside its normal allocated area. When air support for the land component of 8.C.0.F. is required, this will be primarily provided by the 8.C.0.F. air component at Kure. “Kure will be the base port for the 8.C.0.F., which will be responsible for the working of the entire port of Kure, the naval yard remaining under United States naval control. “Provision is being made for the 8.C.0.F. to be represented in the Tokyo Prefecture by a detachment which will probably be of battalion strength. This detachment will be drawn in turn from each national component of the force. “The 8.C.0.F. may he withdrawn wholly, or in part, by agreement between the United States Government and the Commonwealth Governments concerned, or upon six months* notice by either party. It has also been_ agreed that progressive reductions in the strength of the force will be made from time to time in conformity with progressive reductions which may oe made in the strength of the United States occupation forces in Japan.' Tokyo Advanced Echelon

“The Australian Services Mission, hitherto located in Tokyo, has been transformed into an advanced echelon of the headquarters at the 8.C.0.F., with the addition of officers from other Commonwealth components. For the present it remains in the Tokyo. area to facilitate liaison with General MacArthur’s headquarters.

“Details of the move to Japan of the various components of the 8.C.0.F. cannot yet be announced, but detailed planning is now in progress on the following basis;

“(1) The naval port parties for the working of the port of Kure are to arrive in the first week of February. “(2) The leading elements of the Australian component, including an airfield construction squadron, are to arrive in the third week of February. "(3) The leading elements of the British-Indian Division and advanced parties of the British-Indian air component are to arrive about March 1. “(4) The leading elements of the New Zealand Brigade, which is moving from Italy, are to arrive about March'23. ,

“The organisation of the 8.C.0.F. and arrangements for its control through the J.C.0.5.A., which are outlined above, constitute a further development in closer integration of British Commonwealth co-operation. They ensure that each of the Governments _ concerned has a full and effective voice in this joint undertaking.”