BRITISH ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1930, Page 11

BRITISH ARMY

OCTOBER EXAMINATION

MACHINES AND MOBILITY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 19tli December.

The Army Council ,gave a luncheon on 13th December at the Army and Navy Club to officers of the Dominion Military Forces in this country. Invitations were issued to Field-Marshal Sir George Milne, Sir Herbert Creedy, Major-General J. E. Bruche (Australian Military representative), Commander G. C. Jonea (Eoyal Canadian Navy), Lieut.-Colonels A. E. Harris (Eoyal Canadian Artillery) and V. A. H. Sturdee (Australian, Staff Corps); Majors F. 11. Berryman (Staff Officer to Austra\ian Military ■representative), B. Combes (Australian' Staff ■"Corps), and J. K. Lawson (Eoyal Canadian Eegiment); Captains J. H. Carvoaso (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry), F. E. .Corney (Australian Staff Corps), W. J. Home (Eoyal Canadian Eegiment), E. O. G. Morton (Eoyal Canadian Artillery), K. L. Stewart (New Zoaland Staff Corps), and E. G. Whitelaw (Boyal Canadian Eegiment); Lieutenant J. L. Sparling (Eoyal Canadian Army Service Corps), Second Lieutenant C. L, de Wet dv Toit (South African Field Artillery), Major-Gen-erals J.E. E. Charles, H. H. S. Knox, W. H. Bartholomew, and C. BonhamCarter; Colonels C. G. Liddell and G. 0. Kelly; Lieut.-Colonels Lord Maliae Graham,, the Hon. P. G. Scarlett, and T. J. Hutton; Majors H. G. Eady and L. S. Lloyd; Captain E. M. Hall; Mr. E. G. C. Paterson, and Mr. A. J. Newline

The papers set at the October examination of Army officers for promotion have been circulated. The examiners state that the general work of subalterns is below standard, and that "it would appear that in spme cases the officers responsible for the preparation of candidates have not yet fully appreciated the importance of instruction by means of tactical exercises." Candidates failed to grasp- the' difficulties in tho tactical handling of a very small lorry-covered force.

Comments are made upon some of tho results of recent reorganisations. The abolition of horse-transport, for instance, has widened the range of the sabre squadrons, and mechanised machine gun squadron? have greatly increased the. fire power of cavalry, in some cases pack transport for these guns compares favourably with sixwheeler transport as regards tactical mobility. A third sabre squadron in each regiment, it is suggested, would increase the efficiency of the cavalry. INFANTRY OKaANI3ATION. With regard to infantry, it is stated that a battalion cqmmandor's task is complicated by the coincidence of gun, rifle, anti-tank, anti-aircraft, signal, intelligence, and co-operative arrangements, and that the present organisation of an infantry battalion does not achieve the ideal of simplicity. The Lewis gun is not an ideal automatic weapon, and a' good automatic rifle is suggested. Present infantry organisation "must be regarded as a stage in the process of its evolution." An-Army Order has been issued giving the particulars-of the next examination for entrance to the staff colleges at Camberley and Quetta, to -be held in February-March, 1930, for the courses beginning in January and February, 1931. At this examination 45 vacancios for tho Sta.ffi College, Camberley, will bo offered for competition, as follow: British Army, 33; Boyal Marines, 1; Indian Army, \, Forcos of the Ovprsoas Dominions, 5. No British Army officer.will, however, bo eligible to fill a competitive vacancy unless ho is within the first 4.5, in,.order.of merit. The maximum number of competitive vacancies that can- be obtained by each arm is as follows: Cavalry,' 2; Boyal Artillery, 8; Boyal Engineers, 4; Boyal Corps of Signals, 1; Infantry, 16; Koyal Tank Corps, 1; Boyal Army Service Corps, 1. ' . '..' :-- ■

In addition to the above, the following vacancies will, un,der the provisions of Staff College Eegulations (Camberley), 1927, be filled by nomination: (a) British Army (about), 8j (b) 'Indian Army, 2; (c) Eoyal Navy, 2; (d) Eoyal Air Force, 2. In the event of fewer than 33 British Army officers, being eligible for entrance by competition, a corresponding increaso will be made in the numbe* of. vacancies filled by nomination. For the Staff College, Quetta, 20 vacancies will be offered for competition, thus: Royal Artillery, 2; Eoyal Engineers, 1; other/arms, 15; Forces of the Oversea Dominions, 2. The nominated vacancies will be eight for tho British and Indian Services, and one for the Royal Air Force.