AUSTRALIAN ORDNANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1941, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ORDNANCE

NEW MASTER-GENERAL.

ARRIVES FROM MIDDLE EAST.

Brigadier E. J. Mitford. D. 5.0.. who has returned to Australia b.v air from the A.I.F. in the Middle East, has taken over his new post as Master-General of the Commonwealth Ordnance. He succeeds Major-General T. R. Williams. C.M.G.. D. 5.0.. who has been appointed Chief Military .Advisor tn the Dir-ector-General of Munitions <Mr II F<sington Lewis).

Australia's vastly increased munitions production necessitated the creation of General William’s new post in order that the army could take advantage of the rapidly increasing supplies of munitions and stores coming forward. Since the outbreak of war General Williams and the ordance staff clothed and equipped the equivalent of 12 divisions. This involved the placing of orders in /Australia alone to the value of £lOO 000.000. In the new scheme, the Master-Gen-eral of the Ordnance will be responsible for the preparation of all demands on the Department of Munitions and Supply for equipment required by the army and for earing for all material once it is handed over to the army organisation. The chief military advisor will bo concerned with the specification. design and inspection of future requirements of equipment.