GENERAL AUCHINLECK RECALLED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 5

GENERAL AUCHINLECK RECALLED

ARMY HEADQUARTERS CLOSE

LONDON, Nov. 12. The British Government has recalled General Sir Claude Auchinlcck from his post as Commander-in-chief and Supreme Commander of the India and Pakistan Dominion forces. All British officers and other ranks at his headquarters will withdraw from November 30. It is officially announced that the closing of headquarters followed a recommendation from General Auchinleck, who said he and his officers were becoming unable to perform the task of reconstituting the British forces in India into the new Pakistan and India forces, because of the absence of co-operation between the principal parties. The Joint Defence Council of India and Pakistan, in a communique which announced the closing of General Auchinleck’s headquarters, added that the Government of India wished the headquarters to be closed from November 30 on the ground that the task of reconstituting the armed forces was largely completed, and it held that the remaining work could be done by a method jointly agreed upon by the India and Pakistan Governments. Pakistan, however, considered that headquarters should be retained as a neutral organisation until the conclusion of the work on the scheduled dissolution date, April 1, 1948. The communique continued that the British Government had no option but to withdraw General Auchinleck and British troops from headquarters, as it considered the officers and men should not be saddled with the responsibility which the circumstances made it impossible for them to discharge efficiently It added: “A commander of the British forces in India and Pakistan would succeed the Supreme Commander. He will not be responsible for completing the reconstitutwn of the armed forces of the two dominions or concerned with these forces except with British personnel serving with them. His headquarters will be New Delhi. Reuter’s correspondent says the troops and families to be withdrawn under the plan to close General Auchinleck’s headquarters number about 8000. It is expected that their repatriation will be completed by February, 1948.