BRITISH ARMY OF RHINE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26395, 13 April 1951, Page 3

BRITISH ARMY OF RHINE

Inspection By General Eisenhower (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 11. General Eisenhower, after making his first field inspection of the British Army of the Rhine, which is now under his overall command as head of the Atlantic Pact Forces, said he was astonished at the proficiency reached by the young British soldiers after only a few weeks’ training. At the end of his visit he held a brief press conference at Bonn,# at which he told correspondents: “We are in a new business with old friends, and we expect to be successful at it. We must realise that only in unity is there strength. We .should put lesseethings aside and make ourselves strong in order to live the way we want to live.” General Eisenhower showed special interest in the Centurion tank, and he climbed on one to inspect it. He saw Centurions in action with an infantry company storming a ridge with artillery support and anti-tank fire from defenders stimulated with a pattern of laid charges. He also saw a demonstration of the quick deployment ot artillery and the seizure ana consolidation of a bridgehead.

His inspection was part of a fourday visit t.o the troops in Germany. He will next see the French troops operating.