FORCES IN JAPAN
BRITISH COMPONENT
REDUCTION THIS YEAR
N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright
Rec. 9 p.m. TOKIO, May 19. Reliable British sources said today that by the end of 1948 the total strength of the 8.C.0.F. would probably be well under 5000. When the New Zealand ground forces are withdrawn by September, the force will comprise one depleted Australian infantry brigade, and a small Australian and New Zealand air group. To-day none of the three Australian battalions can mus.ter many more than 200 men, and senior officers have little hope of reinforcements. Already plans have been completed to move 8.C.0.F. headquarters from the island of Eta Jima to the mainland. Only one battalion will remain on the island to facilitate patrol activity in the adjacent areas. It is understood that General MacArthur has been asked that the token remaining force should be headquartered in Tokio. Recent inquiries by the 8.C.0.F. newspaper into the practicability of publishing in Tokio instead of Osaka seem to provide unofficial confirmation of this, although Kobe also has been suggested as a headquarters site.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 26776, 20 May 1948, Page 5
Word Count
174FORCES IN JAPAN Otago Daily Times, Issue 26776, 20 May 1948, Page 5
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