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Part 13
OCEAN BASES.
26. When Japan, entered the war, and especially after the loss of Singapore, the Navy felt the need of additional bases in the Indian Ocean. Bases were selected at Addu Atoll in the Maldive Islands, Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago, Seychelles and Mauritius. India was made responsible for the garrison of these and also of Cocos Island and Rodriguez (East of Mauritius). The defences of Addu Atoll were originally designed on a considerable scale, but were later reduced. Scrub typhus and malaria caused a very high sick rate in the garrison and labour units working on the airfield and defences; but this showed signs of improvement by the end of the year as a result of jungle clearance.
After the occupation of Madagascar I suggested that Mauritius, Rodriguez and Seychelles could better be garrisoned from E. Africa. This was accepted and on the 1st September these places passed fb the E. African Command. I returned the Mauritian garrison from Diego Garcia to Mauritius during September and replaced it by Indian troops.
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