SHOW-DOWN WITH ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 21, 25 July 1945, Page 6

SHOW-DOWN WITH ARMY

DEMAND FOR RELEASE

OC SYDNEY, July 18 The Australian Government \is proceeding with plans to expedite the discharge of long-service members of the A.I.F. and members wanted in essential industries. The Army Minister, Mr. F. M. Forde, is conferring with the Command-er-in-Chief, General Sir Thomas Blarney, who will be expected to co-operate in the release of 64,000 men, 29,000 of whom are veterans with five years' service, including . two years overseas. Hitherto the Army had not been cooperative and there had been widespread, resentment among members of Parliament, soldiers' relatives, and the public generally by the action of high. Army officials in balking the Government's direction. Matters came to a head when Mr. J. B. Chifley was Acting Prime Minister during Mr. Curtin's illness, and the absence in San Francisco of the Deputy Leader, Mr. Forde. Mr.- Chifley was mortified to learn that two weeks after he had to\d the House of Representatives that such men would have the option of discharge, units containing 'many long-service veterans had been shipped abroad on another operation. Not only was this Army action a blow to his own prestige, but its backwash would injure the party. Letters'from indignant relatives said plainly that the Government had failed to honour its pledge and the relatives would enlist members of the Opposition to voice their protests. BY TELEPHONE TO BLAMEY. It is strongly rumoured in v Canberra that Mr. Chifley got on to General Blarney on the telephone and in his well-known drawl told the Command-er-in-Chief that the men must come out of the Army, to which General Blarney is alleged to have replied that the five-year men could not he spared. Without altering his tone, Mr. Chifley informed the general that if he (Sir Thomas) - could not do it, perhaps, someone could be found who could. Significantly, two hours after it was known that Mr. Chifley would be Prime Minister, the Army announced •that five-year veterans would not be embarked in future for further frontline operations, and if they wished, would be discharged. It is now stated, unofficially, in v Aus- . tralian capitals that General Blarney is contemplating standing as a Liberal. fit the. federal Elections jnesdysEeai^ ••'■