Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

NEW ARMY
CHIEF
Popular
Choice
"The Age" Special Correspondent
.'- LONDON, Feb. 1.
Field-Marshal 'Lord Montgom
ery' has been appointed Chief of
the Imperial General Staff, in
succession to Field-Marshal Lord
Alanbrooke, who at the Govern
ment's request continued to serve
after the end , of the war. Lord
Alanbrooke has held the appoint
ment for 414- years, covering the
greatest military events in Bri
tish history. The change will take
effect on June 26.
The appointment of Field-Mar
shal Montgomery Is not likely to
occasion surprise among the
junior officers and other ranks
of the British Army, but senior
commanders may be critical. Be
fore the appointment of Field-
Marshal Lord Alexander as Go
vernor-General of Canada- the
latter was : considered . to be the
possible successor of Lord Alan
brooke, who is 62 years of age.
Field-Marshal Montgomery ( who:
is 58 years of age, is now spend- !
log a holiday in Switzerland. He
will retain the post, of comman
der of the British forces in Ger
many and . the! British represen
tative of the Allied Control Coun
cil until he assumes his new
duties.
The choice of Field-Marshal
Montgomery , as the Chief of Staff
will be welcomed' by the public
and the rank and file of the
serving soldiers, especially at this
time when the formation of con?
ditions and - commitments -of the,
regular army is under considera
tion by the Government. The
reconstruction of -.the .arrii/f /oa>.a,
peace basis will be Field-Marshal'
Montgomery's great task, to
which he brings the fruits of
victory and a deeper knowledge
of what he terms "my soldiers"
than any other high commander,
while he has a profound under
standing of thp .scientific changes
in war and the Inter-relation
with political and economic poli
cies.
Genius for leadership and ca
pacity to "stimulate enthusiasm
among all ranks will be needed
now when momentous decisions
are due to be made on what form
the : new .army will take, 'or - the
possible formation of an ihterna-
.tlonal force'. It is ' considered
probable In high military circles
that the army will be Performed
not only in pay and conditions
of service, but in size and com
ponents in' relation to the Navy
andthe.R.A.F.'
$