BRITISH GENERAL STAFF

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1939, Page 3

BRITISH GENERAL STAFF

VISCOUNT GORT’S ASSOCIATES.

Reports from England say that Viscount Gort, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, has able associates. One of Viscount Gort’s, staff is Brigadier Hotblack, who was in the taifk corps in the last war, and who is Britain’s greatest expert on mechanical warfare. He again represents the new type of staff officer and leader. After being an intelligence officer he served as a military attache at many embassies abroad, notably Berlin. He was present, at the Germany Army manoeuvres in 1935 and was greatly respected by the German High Command.

Another one of Viscount Gort’s staff is Lieutenant-General MarshallCornwall, chief of all the anti-aircraft defence. His appointment last September was a surprise to the army as his name was unknown to the general public. He is small and red-headed and is one of the youngest men to hold his rank. He is a linguist with a special knowledge of German and a profound grasp of political and foreign affairs. He recently carried out the ticklish business of establishing liaison between the Egyptian Army and Britain, now that all English serving officers have departed. Strangely for a soldier he was credited recently with a scheme for “geographical disarmament,” which it was'claimed would secure enduring peace in Europe. Briefly the scheme meant the demilitarisation of all international frontier zones and putting them out of boundsfor all military operations. Today that scheme is like a dream, but LieutenantGeneral Marshall-Cornwall is no dreamer, but an able leader.