ARMY’S PART.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 248, 17 September 1940, Page 7

ARMY’S PART.

PREPARING FOR OFFENSIVE

LONDON, Sept. 4,

The glaring light of publicity is so constantly focussed on the daring and spectacular feats of the It.A.F. and the Royal Navy that there is a tendency to forget the part the Army has and will play in the war. There are other factors. In summaries of the first year of the war, a number of -writers criticised the Army High Command. Then, because the army is not fighting, but merely preparing against the the day when it will be called on to take the offensive, little publicity is being given to it, except, for example, when Britain’s defences are turned or when newspapers recount an act of bravery of an officer or member of the ranks who has been decorated. . “MUST HAVE WEAPONS.”

The speech of the Secretary of War (Mr Eden) on Tuesday, in one passage touched upon this aspect. When declaring that there was no weapon in its armoury in respect of which the Army does not ask for more, including divebombers, lie said: “The Royal Navy and merchant marine, by their command of the seas and their loyal service, create conditions in which alone victory is possible. lhe R.A.T., by its splendid gallantry, a prelude to victory. But it is the Army that must deal the final blow. The Army must have its weapons and its training above all, mechanised weapons and close tactical support from the air, which is indispensable to success in modem war.” The winter and fears of boredom in the Army are already securing the attention of Army chiefs, who recognise that the intelligent use of the coming winter months will he a challenging test of the Army’s gift of imgination, since, as Mr Eden said, they must he months, not of boredom, but of opportunity, to he- used to the best advantage. . • .■ , The Army will ha given the fullest possible scope for training in its own arms and for recreation. For training in other subjects /a special department has been formed at the War Office to deni with welfare work, and a director of education lias also been appointed. Pleas for public co-operation in order <to make billeting on a large scale successful will soon be launched, since winter accommodation will prove ail immense problem.