IMPERIAL ARMY

Evening Star, Issue 17327, 15 April 1920, Page 6

IMPERIAL ARMY

INTERCHANGE OP OFFICERS. VIEWS OF THE INDIA OFFICE. ' Press Association—By TeLgraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. • LONDON, April 15. Ihe Australian Press interviewed a high official in the India Office in reference to General Sir William Bird wood’s suggestion for _ the interchange of Australian officers. The official said it was highly .important that there should- be the closest co-operation between the two armies, because in, any future war eastward of Suez in which Britain was involved it was inevitable that the Indian and Australian armies should fight shoulder to shoulder. It was important that they should as far as possible understand each other’s customs and methods of warfare. .The Indian army was a splendid training ground for Australian officers, and he hoped that the pre-war arrangement of sending one New Zealander and one Australian to the Staff College at Quetta would be resumed and extended. At present an additional six New Zealanders were receiving training in the field l in India, and they might form the nucleus of a scheme such as General Birdwood had. proposed, but a definite suggestion must emanate from Australia. The authorities ape at present considering the details of a proposal to have military missions from the various Allies attached to the Indian Headquarters. Australia should be similarly represented, quite apart from any schema for an interchange of officers.