British Empire Force For Jap Occupation

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1945, Page 6

British Empire Force For Jap Occupation

SYDNEY, This Day. Provided the respective Governments and the combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington agree, the British occupation forces for Japan will comprise: One Indian division. Cne ( Australian brigade. One New Zealand brigade. An R.A.A.F. unit of about 2000 men, equipped with Mustang and Courier aircraft. This statement comes from Mr Jack Percival, “Sydney Morning Herald” correspondent at Allied. Headquarters in Tokio. Lieutenant-General Northcott, who has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of Land Establishments, British Commonwealth of Nations Army of Occupation in Japan, recently arrived in Japan with Air Vice-Marshal Bouchier and Brigadier R. H. Nimmo. ARRIVE IN FEBRUARY It is not considered likely that the British occupation force will arrive in japan before February, and no final arrangements have yet been made about which areas they will occupy. It is considered certain that the R.AA.F. unit will be based on an aerodrome in the Tokio area. If the force arrives in Japan in February it will be the depth of winter. The Americans have completed central heating in most of their barracks and billets, and all their units have been issued with special winter clothing. Most of the preliminary arrangements for the British force have been completed by the Australian Services Mission. - ■