BRITISH ARMY REFORM

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 3 February 1938, Page 6

BRITISH ARMY REFORM

* 1 “COMMANDERS’ COUNCIL” ESTABLISHED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPIBJGHT.) LONDON, February 1. Following up the plans for the reorganisation of the Army, the Secretary of State for War (Mr L. Hore-Belisha) opened a conference which lasted throughout the day, at the War Office. It was attended by Viscount Gort, the new Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and the commanders of the first-class commands, including Lieutenant-Gen-eral Sir John Dill, who was appointed to the Aldershot post on his return from Palestine, and General Sir Edmund Ironside, of the Eastern Command, who is known in the Army as “Big Bill” Ironside. The conference examined arrangements for ensuring the rapid conduct of business between the War Office and the commands, also the schemes for army reorganisation. The conference, which will be known as “The Commanders’ Council,” will reassemble at regular intervals. It was also disclosed officially today that a standing committee of the Army Council has been established to discuss general administrative questions “and stimulate the progress of important matters under discussion or on which action is proceeding.” It is believed that the committee will be abje to speed up business in the War Office and unify action by the various departments.