NEW ARMY COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 21, 26 January 1938, Page 7

NEW ARMY COUNCIL

CHANGES IN BRITAIN

THE SERVICE VIEWPOINT

Apart from the few who, suspected that there might be drastic changes in :the, Army Council in the near future, the announcement of the Government's new; policy.; came as a great surprise-to-Army circles, says a writer in -the ','Dally .Telegraph and Morning Post." On the whole, the reaction to it lias .been favourable.

Points '■> of view.^naturally' differ according 'to .-the individual, but to the ambitious officer, .who is hoping for rapid advancement; the idea of rejuvenating the higher appointments and a ruthless selection, disregarding seniority, . has a ; considerable appeal. '■■■ Equally, -.as > a", principle, the more junior officers \ are,,.all in favour of a speeding,up of^he-:retirement of the more elderly'generals by the new policy5 of not giving appointments to those who will $c more than 60 before their- tenure expires. This will ultimately increase their own prospects of promotion. "There Is, "on "the other hand, among the more senior serving and retired officers- a doubt regarding the manner in which the retiring Army Councillors were induced to vacate their posts. It is felt that it has attracted undue attention by the sudden and spectacular manner in which it has been done, and there is some anxiety as to whether these distinguished officers have been treated with adequate consideration. "BEST MEN BEEN PICKED." Regarding the new appointments themselves there is a general feeling that the best men have been picked, and this goes far to justify the move. If any criticism regarding individuals is suggested it takes the direction of questioning whether Viscount Gort, the new Chief of .Imperial General Staff, has sufficient experience for the post, and whether it was necessary to go so far down the list to get the right man. ' \. '

In particular,. Lieutenant-General Sir John , Dill and Major-General A. P. Wavell, recently appointed to important, commands, and General Sir Edmund, Ironside, of the Eastern Command, all seem to.have the necessary qualifications,of ageV known efficiency, and' experience. The answer, no doubt, is to be found in the fact, that the* intention is that the potential leaders of the Army in war must have first consideration, and that the C.1.G.5., who would remain in the War Office, will no longer be in fact, if'not jn name, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, while the G.O.C.s-in-Chief of Commands are to be called in to advise on a policy and will, therefore, have a very much-enhanced status. • CHANGES WELCOMED. The important changes in the Army Council have been well received in the lobbies of the House of Commons, said the newspaper's political correspondent. - Members realise that the necessity existed for some infusion of younger blood in the higher councils of the War Office, and welcome, also, the policy of deciding promotion on merit rather than seniority. Those who know the outstanding qualities of Sir Cyril Deverell as a soldier, regret his resignation, but opinion seems to be unanimous in supporting the choice of Viscount Gort as the new Chief of Staff.

His reputation is so high that it is generally felt that the difficulties inherent in such a drastic step will be successfully overcome under his guidance. -