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Cutting dated..
TIMES.
•17 OCT 1945
Ever
U.S. FEYING-BOATS IN HONG-KONG
F8603
AN UNHERALDED SERVICE
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
MELBOURNE, 945
The British auforities are being dated embarrassment by the increasingly large numbers of American forces arriving in Hong-kong unexpectedly. An Australian correspondent says that 12 large four- jengined United States Navy cargo flying- boats landed at Kaitak seadrome yester- day, and the occupants stated that they intended to open up a service from Manila through Hong-kong to Shanghai. local administration knew nothing what- The ever about the project.
A senior R.A.F. officer stated that no infor- mation had been received that the aeroplanes were arriving. There is no American air head- quarters ashore; it is on board a United States aircraft tender lying in Victoria harbour. The presence of this and other United States ships is puzzling the British; although it was known that American transports would ship Chinese troops from Hong-kong to various ports in China, it is considered that the con- voying of transports by warships is unneces- sary. Seven United States warships have been at Hong-kong for more than a week, but there is still no sign of transports. Harcourt stated he had not been informed Admiral how long the Americans intended to remain. He expected thousands of Chinese troops to pass through the colony, going north
The British carrier Venerable, which was due to sail to Haiphong three days ago to pick up Indian prisoners of war and other repatriates, is still in Victoria harbour. Admiral Harcourt stated that she was unable to sail until berthing at Haiphong had been sanc- tioned by the Chinese Government. regrettable that the Chinese can prevent a It is British ship from proceeding to French territory, but the Chinese are in occu- a port in pation, and that is all there is to it."
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