BRITISH SERVICES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23323, 5 October 1945, Page 7

BRITISH SERVICES

Speed-up Of Releases Announced (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 3. the end of 1945 more than 1,500,660 men and women will be demobilised from the British Forces. By June, 1946, at least 3,000,000 will be demobilised. . The new programme, which takes into account releases op compassionate grounds and other wastage due to discharge from medical and other reasons, ls _ an mc rease over the present plans of 400,000 by the end of the year and 750,000 by the end of June. The speed-up, which was announced by the Minister of Labour (Mr George Isaacs), means that the British armed forces are to be reduced, to less than half of their peak war strength within the next eight months. Ships, planes and land transport are being mobilised to get home quickly overseas men due for release. The R.A.F. between now and May plans to transport 1,000,000 men and women members of the Services and 250,000 tons of freight. All homebound naval vessels are to be used as troop transports. Aircraft carriers will bring back British released prisoners. Some merchantmen are being converted to transports, while as many passenger liners as possible are being conscripted for this job. In the last three months of 1945 the average weekly rate of release will be 80,000.