"Monty" Discusses Military Policy

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1948, Page 5

"Monty" Discusses Military Policy

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— Reuter ,

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Received Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, May 30. Intensive scientihc research in peacetime was an' impQi'tant part of British military policy, said Viscount Montg'omery at a press eonference at Camberley Staff College. 'T believe another war will be fought mainly with weapons developed before it begins," he said. Seientifie tidvisers hacl been coppted during ^Exereise Bamboo" which had just ended, Man was an important weapon in war, and science had to ensure that a soldier was iit eYen if eventually the job was only to; press a hpttoiL v "Modern .weapon inyentjons mean that we ean 110 longer count on breathiug space at the begijining of another war' to build up and train. A11 army mpst be ready to take the field as early as possible, Organisation for defence agaipst air. attaek must have highest priority in mobilisation pldns." Britain had adopted the conception of a natiqnal army eomprising regulars, a national service element and territorials. A11 army. to be ready to defend the country quickly, had to be organised and trained more efificiently than before the last war, especially regarding officers. Commanding officers had to niake the traiuing imaginative and interesting as well as hard and realistic. National servicemen's traiuing must he made "great fun.". "Exercise Bamboo" eoncerned a . imaginary Ear East campaign against the Japanese aiid Yiscount Montgomery emphasised the difference between Far Eastcrn and European warfare. He said some officers in the exercise wore Japanese uniforms.