Evening star., 1945-09-17
Demobi|ization Of All Draftees
In Pacific Due Within 6 Months
Macarthur Points
To Success of
Occupation
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
TOKYO, Sept 1.-THE Ameri-
can occupation of Japan has
paid off so handsomely that oc-
cupation forces probably will be
cut to not more than 100000
within six months, Gen. Mac
Arthur said today.
AS result of the successful pene-
tration of this conquered nation
Gen. Macarthur added in a formal
statement, troops will be returned
home as rapidly as ships are made
available. Regular Army forces, he
said, probably will be able to main-
tain unaided the 200,000-man force
(which will permit complete de-
mobilization of our citizen (draftee)
Pacific forces"
There was probably no greater
gamble taken in history" his state
ment explained, than the initial
landings where ground forces were
outnumbered 1000 to l by armed
Japanese. But the stakes were
worth it."
Half Recent Estimate.
Gen. Macarthur estimate of
zoe, 900 occupation troops is just half
the number which 1t. Gen. Robert
L. Eichelberger, commander of the
9th Army, recently said would be
necessary-and Gen. Eichelberger's
figures were at that time considered
low. At the start, about 100000
men-including air forces-were
scheduled to participate
Only Saturday. however, Gen.
Eichelberger forecast that the en-
tire occupation might be washed
up" within year if it continued
as smoothly as it had started.
Gen. MacArthur's statement said
that the unknown quantity at the
outset of the occupation was wheth-
er military government would
have to be established. This would
have involved several million troops,
he said, but by working with the
existing Japanese government, pur-
poses of the surrender terms can be
accomplished with only small frac-
ton of the men, time and money
originally projected.
Success of Venture Pointed Out.
This situation involved grave
initial risk but successful penetra-
ton and subsequent progress of the
operation now assures success of the
venture he said.
Once Japan is disarmed, Gen.
Macarthur emphasized, a force of
zoo, 900 troops will be sufficiently
strong to insure our will"
Questions involved in the strength
Of occupation forces, the supreme
commander explained, are entirely
independent of the future Japanese
politico-governmental structure.
This problem, he explained, is wait
ing completion of the military phase
of the surrender-and is one that
unquestionably will be determined
upon the highest diplomatic level
of the United Nations
Shanghai dispatches today
said that the swift, quiet expan-
sion of American naval occupa-
ton along Shanghai's water front
was expected by Wednesday.
Minesweepers already are at work
clearing the Whangpoo River
thereD '.
Eighth Army headquarters reported
that roundup of the 46 war-crimes
suspects wanted by Gen. Macarthur
was proceeding with equal smooth
ness-with the japanese govern
ment making the arrests.
Twenty-nine already were in GUS
tody; only Is remained at liberty,
and two others were dead by their
own hands.
Nobusuke Kishi, former commerce
and industry minister, was locked in
the big Yokohama Jail today several
hours after japanese authorities
drove UP with Vice Admiral Ken
Terashima, former communications
and railways minister.
With Kishi were 1t. Col Seiichi
Ohta, repeatedly charged with
atrocities at Manila; and 1t. Hon
ashi Takauchi, who allegedly mis-
treated internees at prison camp 1-B
In the Kawasaki area.
Three Divisions to Return.
Gen. Macarthur also announced
that the 31st, 37th and 38th Ameri-
can Divisions would go home soon
from Manila.
Earlier Gen. Macarthur summon
ed japanese Premier Higashi-
to his new headquarters, facing
Japan's Imperial Palace, where he
Is believed to have informed the
Prince bluntly that Japan is not an
equal and has not yet proved her
right to be treated as one-the same
strong statement that was given to
the now-censored japanese press
Saturday.
Admiral Halsey's naval forces
meanwhile speeded Japanese dis
armament by smashing Is big
coastal defense guns fringing Tokyo
Bay, and scuttling 81 midget subma-
rines, 103 suicide boats and 103
man-guided torpedoes.
With an estimated half of Japan's
5000 900 homeland soldiers now dis
armed, the second great allied task
of prisoners of war
proceeded while fresh atrocity re-
ports rolled in hourly.
Amiral TeraShirna, one Of the i'm
tSee OCCUPATION, Page A-5.)
:~I.