April troopships have a capacity of approximately 6,400 spaces. Only 2,600 April 30 eligibles remain in the Theater. Thus space remains available for about 3,800 returnees. The number of June 30 eligibles totals roughly 5,800. Theater Headquarters spokesmen said that the June 30 eligibles would be released and sent home during April as quickly as there was no longer any military need for their services. The June 30 standards for release as previously laid down by I-B Headquarters are 40 points or 24 moths of service as of June 30. APRIL 30 MEN It was anticipated that the bulk of the April 30 eligibles would be cleared out of the Theater with the sailing of the General Sturgis on April 13, while the General Hersey on the 21st would carry most of the June 30 group going in April. Theater personnel also includes 4,300 men not eligible for release under the June 30 criteria. Since only 450 men will be sent to China from this group, the closing of the Theater on May 31 will mean return home for 3,850 men who would not have been eligible otherwise. Quotas for the movement of officers and men to Replacement Depot 3 during the period 24 March to 15 April are as follows: Delhi area and Theater Special Troops (incomplete) - 257, Base Section (incl. Assam) - 3,558, AAF, I-BT - 882, ATC, AACS, 10th Weather - 829. Cardinal Clears For U.S. 16 Hours After Arrival By SGT. CHARLES KELLOGG Roundup Ex-Editor CALCUTTA - Her decks packed with more than 3,000 G.I.'s, nurses, Red Cross personnel, wives and WACs, the SS Marine Cardinal backed away from Pier 2 of the King George V docks here last Saturday afternoon after one of the quickest "turnarounds" in the history of Port of Calcutta troop embarkation.
Lines were cast off and the 12,000-ton vessel moved stern-first into the muddy Hooghly channel in mid-afternoon, scarcely more than 16 hours after tying up here late Friday evening. Aboard her were slightly over 3,000 officers and enlisted men, five enlisted WACs, 23 wives of American servicemen, 13 nurses and 42 Red Cross personnel, most of them women. The merchant crew aboard numbered about 100. The Cardinal was the second U.S.-bound troopship to sail from Calcutta in four days - her sister ship of the MacCormack-Moore Lines, the SS Marine Jumper sailed on Wednesday, March 20, with 3,100-odd male passengers aboard. WORK THROUGH NIGHT Arriving off the mouth of the Hooghly, 60 miles from the King George Docks late Thursday, the Cardinal was delayed nearly 24 hours by pilot difficulties. She docked at approximately 10 o'clock Friday evening. Rushing crew members and Army Transportation Corps personnel worked through the night to get the vessel ready for the 25-day voyage to San Francisco, and the first homeward bound servicemen stepped aboard at 6 o'clock Saturday morning. Unlike the enlisted men and male officers, the women were allowed to have their luggage carried on the ship by coolies. First to board were the nurses, followed by the quintet of WACs. Then came the Red Cross girls and a handful of male Red Cross workers, followed by the 23 wives. There were no babies on the passenger list. Crew members estimated the trip to San Francisco would take approximately 25 days, with a refueling stop at Manila. |
500 Men Will Remain To Do Residual Duties
Roundup Staff Writer Royall said the 500 remaining would be progressively reduced, and after a few months the number should not exceed 100 or 150. Thomas B. McCabe, Foreign Liquidation Commissioner, and Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Parks, chief of the Army's Public Relations Division, also took part in the interview. Seven other top Army officers were in Royall's and McCabe's party, including Lt. Gen. Leroy Lutes, Commanding General of the Army Service Forces. Royall explained that the principal aim of the party's world-wide inspection tour was an examination of the disposition of Army surplus property in all theaters. I-B'S JOB OUTSTANDING The Undersecretary declared that India-Burma Theater had done an outstanding job - one which was "truly remarkable" in the circumstances of reduced personnel. He declared that surplus property in the Pacific areas was still widely scattered, but he found I-B surpluses well warehoused in Calcutta, the principal storage point. Royall stated that he had been informed that the warehousing and record-keeping was in similar good shape in other parts of the Theater, although he had not visited them. McCabe confirmed the estimate, which appeared in Roundup last week, that all but "tag ends" of the surplus property in India would be transferred to the Indian government by about April 25. He said the tonnage involved would amount to half a million. Royall declined to venture any opinions on recent controversies concerning freedom of the G.I. press, on grounds that he had been away from Washington, traveling, while most of the incidents took place. QUESTION ON DUTCH Royall was asked whether he knew anything about reports that American insignia was still being used on Lend-Lease equipment in Indonesia, in violation of President Truman's request. He declared he was not personally familiar with the situation. "I don't say it doesn't exist," he stated, but added that this was the first time the question had been asked him. McCabe, in response to a question concerning sale of Army and Navy property in Australia to the Dutch for use in Indonesia, confirmed that military property is being sold to them. He said the sale was not proceeding as fast as we would like. He confirmed that material bought by the Dutch is being transported in Army and Navy ships and in U.S. vessels under the War Shipping Administration. The FLC Commissioner said that material from this Theater previously committed to China under Lend-Lease will be turned over to China. McCabe declared that there is in Calcutta now a stockpile of 35,000 tons, worth about $23,000,000, waiting transportation to China. The tonnage includes 5,571 vehicles, he said. While in New Delhi, the party called on Air Marshal Carr, acting British Commander-In-Chief; met with Viceroy Wavell; were entertained at lunch by George R. Merrell, head of the American Mission in India; and were the dinner guests of acting Theater Commander, Maj. Gen. Vernon Evans. From India, the group is expected to proceed to Africa and Europe before returning to Washington. British Mission Arrives In Delhi NEW DELHI - (UP) - A mission of three British cabinet ministers arrived here by air last Sunday to begin discussions leading to the determination of the political fate of India's 400,000,000 people. The members will consider, in conjunction with Indian leaders, whether India should become a completely independent nation, a self-governing component of the British Commonwealth of nations, or be divided into separate Moslem and Hindu states. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|