USEFUL EXPERIMENT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 28, 28 October 1942, Page 5

USEFUL EXPERIMENT

Tasks For Africans And Asiatics (British iifllcla) Wireless.) (Received October 27, 7 p.ih.) . RUGBY, October 2G. The Middle East Command, according to “Tiie Times,” has been drawing extensively on the services of Africans and Asiatics from adjoining portions of the colonial empire for non-combat-ant duties such as mechanics, drivers, clerks, storemen, and cooks. The experiment was undertaken less lor lack of men than for economy in shipping. They have given high satisfaction, and the commanding officers cry out for more. The paramount chiefs loyally assisted the movement, ami some have joined the service as warrant ollicers over their tribesmen.

Some races have already proved their qualifications to go beyond the spheres of activity whicli were originally contemplated. Notable among these are the Uasuto, whose enthusiasm and high intelligence have already made them welcome recruits for such technical units as military fire brigades and anti-aircraft artillery. “The Tinies” says that these men are establishing a claim upon the future which must be honoured, and it is equally true that a future which cannot afford waste of any human talents has a claim upon them. The welcome evidence from the Middle East, is that we have many more competent men and races in the colonial empire than was realized hitherto