GENERAL WILLIAMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1941, Page 4

GENERAL WILLIAMS

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND SPENDING ONLY FEW MONTHS IN DOMINION. TO ADVISE ON DEFENCE PROBLEMS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 9. Till recently General Officer Com-manding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lieutenant-General Sir Guy Williams, K.C.8., C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., arrived at Auckland today. He has been placed by the British Government at the disposal of the New Zealand Government to advise it on problems relating to the organisation and training of the New Zealand military forces. General Williams was asked if there was any intention that he should become Chief of General Staff in succession to Major-General Duigan, who recently retired. He said there was no such intention. He would be in New Zealand for only a few months in an advisory capacity. On the subject of training, General Williams said New Zealand had done quite the right thing up to now in turning men over in batches. The training programme had had to be regulated by the equipment available. “Equipment has been the main trouble with us all,” continued General Williams. “However, it is coming along well now and training must keep step with it.” On his way to New Zealand, said General Williams, he had seen New Zealand troops training in Egypt. “They are grand,” he said. He also met the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, whom he described as being “in good form.” General Williams was accompanied by Brigadier C. A. West, D. 5.0., M.C., who, in 1938, was appointed Deputy-1 Military Secretary to tlge Secretary of State for War and assistant secretary of the Selection Board. He entered the Army in 1912 and served in France and Belgium in the Great War. He later served in India and was awarded the D.S.O. and was mentioned in dispatches during operations on the North-West t'rontier. The Inspector-General of the New Zealand military forces, Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, welcomed General Williams and Brigadier West on their arrival. Two more staff officers have yet lo arrive.