OCCUPYING JAPAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25343, 26 October 1945, Page 6

OCCUPYING JAPAN

40,000 BRITISH TROOPS

START ON JANUARY 1

NEW ZEALANPERS' PART (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. '2h

The vanguard of 10,000 British Empire troops who will take part in the occupation of Japan is scheduled to arrive on January 1, snvs the Now York Times correspondent in Tokyo. The force consists of New Zealanders, Australians and Indians.

The British will not have a specific occupation area, adds the correspondent, but will be distributed throughout Japan as reinforced regimental combat teams —small self-contained forces able to strike independently in any direction against any contemplated type of opposition. They will probably be under American command. All the Empire contingent/? will furnish their own supplies without reference to the over-burdened American communications train.

'l'iie New York Herald-Tribune savs the American occupation forces will be reduced by tho late spring to 200,000 men, including seven Army divisions, 20,000 service troops and 75,000 airmen. It was previously reported that China nnd Russia had planned to send a division each to Japan, but Russia may now insist on sending t\vo_ divisions in order to maintain parity with the British forces.