INDIA COMMAND

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 2 May 1925, Page 7

INDIA COMMAND

FIELD-MARSHAL SIR W. BIRDWOOD

POPULAR SELECTION. (FROM OUtt OWN CORRESPOSDEJirO

LONDON, 24th March.

In military circles the official announcement was not altogether unexpected that the King had been pleased to approve the appointment of Field-Mar-shal Sir William Birdwood to be Com-mander-in-Chief in India, in succession to General Lord Eawlinson, Gr.C.fi., G.C.5.1., G.C.Y.0., .E.0.M.G., whose tenure of the appointment expired in November next.

. Sir William returned home from India in December on the completion of his term as Oommander-in-Chief of the Northern Army. It was his first real holiday for fourteen years'; lie acted as Commander : in-Chief in India last year, while Lord Rawiinson was home on ■leave. The new'field-marshal is said by the men who have served under him to be the most democratic commander in the service. He was certainly one of the youngest among the British leaders during the war.- He won great fame in the Gallipoli campaign, where he earned the happy title of the "Soul of Anzac." A "BIG IMPRESSION."

Tho end of the war found Sir William commanding the Fifth Army on the Western Front. He captured Lille, and afterwards made the passage of the Lys on the very last day of the war. Of the many good stories of him one tells how he went through a trench at Lone Pine and put a foot on a sleeping soldier's stomach.

"Tho meeting must have left a big impression on you/ said Sir William when ha met the same' man some years afterwards. "It did;" said the soldier. "£ou put your other foot on my face." A MAN WITH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. . Lieut.-Colonei llepihgtoh, in an appreciation in "The Daily Telegraph,," considers that no oiie has a greater claim than General Birdwood to his new high post, whether froiu long experience of India, practical knowledge and service oii the frontier, or acquaintance with the men and methods of Army Headquarters m the East.

"The system," writes this officer, 1 "by which an Indian Army officer follows as d rule, an officer of the Home Army as Gommander-in-Chief in India, is not a bad one. . An officer like Lord Rawlinson brings to India all tho latest notions b£ military affairs from the West, and is expected and supposed to speed things up and prevent somnolence and lethargy from stealing .over a country in which climate and acquired habits tend to exeiciso some deleterious influences. The Indian Army officer, on the other hand, usually knows a,' great deal more about the Indian Army and, the people of India, and is sure to understand better the languages, customs, and prejudices of the races which provide the Indian Army with recruits. .

'But in Field-Marshal Birdwood's case ■we cannot say that his lias been an In- | dian experience alone, for his historic Command of the Arizac Forces at GaUi- 1 poli, and then of the sth Army in France during the victory year of 1918,' places him on a level of experience with that of our greatest officers outside India, if the practice of fallowing a British by an Indian Army officer, and vice versa, is one that cannot be slavishly followed, and is only justified when a proper mail is .available, the present occasion is certainly, riot one for departing from a reasonable arrangement which usually gives satisfaction at Home and in India. There is another terror added to life iii the Commander-iri-Chiei in India, namely, Diirticipatioh in the debates of the Indian Assembly, but it may be supposed that Sir W. Birdwood will be fully equal to his predecessor as a Parliamentarian; howevel' hateful talking may be; in theory, to a soldier.

"Whether any serious changes in the Army m India are in prospect is a. question for the future to answer. There are usually at least'two opinions on most military, matters in India, and we have a new Secretary for India, who is sure to watch events with great care. But, whatever changes take place, whether on the frontier or elsewhere, we know that we shall havo in Field-Marshal Birdwood a man steeped in the best traditions of India, and at the same time one of European experience who will not do foolish things. The content of tho Indian Army is sure to be safe ju his hands, and that is one of the most important questions of alii whether we ai'e Laiirehtiafts or' of the Forward School." .

A TRIBUTE TO A GREAT SOLDIER.

"Tho Times" comments: "The promotion of Sir William Birdwood, boiti" coincident with his selection for the chief military post in the East Indies, is unique in the history of the Ariiiy. No general has previously'been selected foi the rank of field-ina'rshal and the appointment of Comnlarider-ih-Chief in India simultaneously, and the office has never been filled by a soldier holding the highest rank. The promotion of Stewart. White, Roberts' } and Kitchener was given aft.er they had vacated the command. This emphasis upon the importance of the chiefship in India is not only a recognition of the vast responsibility which rests iipon the Commahder-in-ii>"ii ' a tributß to the merit of Sir William Birdwood's great services to the Slate.

lho new field-marshal was until today the senior general of tho Indian Arihy, and naturally had obvious claims to succeed Lord Rawlinson, especially as the normal process of selacting alternately a British Service officer and an Indian Army officer for the post whs not followed when Lord liawlinson succeeded bir Charles Mom-o, both "being of tho British Service. It was decreed • that Sir William Birdwood had youth enough oil hissi.de to wait until 1925, but in the meantime another great Indian soldier mid rriadf his mark on military affairsSir Claud Jacob; who hnd beeii selected as Chief of the General Staff to Lord Rawlinson, and as Commander of the Northern .Command,'which post he now 'holds. Both of these appointments are in ■ •some measure the steppinsj-slolies to (he higher office. Tie is only 61, so thai, the balance of ."election can y'ct be adjilflcd by an Tndiaii officer fo'lloviin' an Indian officer': jiif.l as Knwliiison Foflinvod Monvo. Tlie promotion ol' Siv William Birdwood places General Jacob :i'.f the head tit the. list as iseniot- jjiSuoral o[ J.hs liiuiou Army," . • ' " .