CHANGES IN COMMAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 196, 28 May 1940, Page 5

CHANGES IN COMMAND.

NEW VICE-CHIEF OF STAFF.

HOME DEFENCE FORCES

(Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 27

The following appointments are officially announced.. Lieutenant-General R, H. Haining, appointed Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff; General H. C. Jackson succeeds as Commander-in-Chief of the Western Command ; MajorGeneral B. C. T. Paget', Coihmander of the Eighteenth Division, appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Home Forces with the acting rank of Lieu-tenant-General.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces, General Sir Edmund Ironside will have control of all measures against possible invasion, whether by sea of air. General Sir John Dill, as Chief of the Imperial General Staff, will have the direction of all the British military forces. General Sir Walter Kirke’s dp-’ cision .to resign and make these changes possible is much appreciated. It is learned in London that the appointment of General Sir Edmund Ironside is proof of the very high importance which the Government attaches to perfecting, by every means in its powci the strength of Britain’s home defences. In Sir Edmund Ironside the Government has chosen a commander who possesses exceptional gifts of energy and drive has deservedly a great reputation for these qualities abroad. General Sir John Dill, who recently became Vice-ChicVof the Imperial General Staff, is the obvious successor to Sir Edmund Ironside, and his appointment will cause general satisfaction at home and abroad.

General Sir Walter. Kirkc has issued the following special order to the Home Forces, of which he was Commander-in-Chicf: “On handing over the command I desire to express to all ranks my thanks for the never-failing support and my confidence in their ability to mget all dangers in the spirit which British soldiers have over displayed in the hour of trial. Under the inspiring leadership of my successor you will now play your part in the struggle for liberty with the utmost courage and determination. Good-bye and good luck.” Special Duties. The War Office announces that it has been decided to form additional companies for certain home defence battalions for special duties in the United Kingdom. The age. limit for enlistment will be from 18 to BH years.

It appears that the publicity given to the enrolment of local defence volunteers—the number of which is already approaching 400,000 has confused many people at home and possibly some abroad as to the role of this force in meeting the parachute menace. The assumption seems to have arisen in some cases that the task of repelling an invasion from the air is to be laid entirely upon the shoulders of the local defence volunteers. It was pointed out-to-day that the duty rests primarily on the regular home forces, of which many thousands are disposed about the country. The new force of volunteers will be merely auxiliary to the regular forces.

Arrangements for the volunteer force are being purposely kept as elastic as possible so as to suit the convenience of the volunteers themselves, who are at work in the daytime and Jive at home. In certain districts, firms are organising their own units. In many country villages the inhabitant's have spontaneously turned for leadership to some prominent resident or retired military officer. Other districts are forming units composed of gamekeepers and beaters. All these units will be fitted into the general scheme under the direction of various area commanders assisted by volunteer area organisers.