AGES OF GENERALS.

Evening Star, Issue 22880, 11 February 1938, Page 8

AGES OF GENERALS.

Perhaps consciously following the precedent set by the recent “ purge ” in the British high command, in which a number of elderly generals were retired and replaced by younger men, the authorities in charge of the United States Array have announced that twenty-six generals in the forces will be retired this year, the average age becoming fifty-four. In the messages so far received the motive underlying these Anglo-American changes has not been analysed in detail, but it would not be surprising to learn that the basic reason for them is not so much the actual age factor as a desire to give added power and responsibilities to younger men who may be expected to have taken a more progressive interest in the development of mechanised weapons of offence. From the strategic point of view there may not bo so much difference between a series of modern battles and what took place during the 1914-1918 conflagration as there was between the Great War, and, say, the Boer War. Yet from the latest reports of army reconstruction it is clear that the services of the old cavalry officer —to mention but one type—would, in the event of serious hostilities, be even less frequently called upon than they were in France about twenty years ago. It has been declared by more than one eminent military historian that in the Great War British leadership suffered from the ideas of highly-placed officers who seemed unable to forget the tactics that brought them success on the veldt and in various guerrilla campaigns elsewhere. At the present time it looks as though Great Britain and America are leaving nothing to chance, either by way of armed readiness to resist aggression or by way of appointing leaders who are likely to prove amenable to changing conditions. If the question of age is being considered it is most likely only on the score that younger men should prove more responsive to the call for elasticity in tactical procedure. A well-known exponent of mechanised warfare, General J. F. C. Fuller, states that in the past 2,000 years of more or less authentic military history the age of array commanders was distributed as follows: 74 per cent, were younger than 45; 22 per cent, were from 45 to 60; and only 4 per cent, were older than 60. When the replacement of elderly British generals took place it was found that only three were below 60. Statistical methods, however, are always controversial. According to statistics, it is also true that Blucher, who contributed to Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, was 72 years old. Suvarov, the Russian military leader, when 70, beat some of the best French generals taking past in the Revolution. In Italy the Austrian Field-Marshal, Radetzky, won victory after victory at 82. And the brilliant Prussian campaign of 1870 in France was controlled by the elder Moltke, then past 70. Turning to more modern times we find that Foch was 66 when he completed the smashing of the German Army, that Joffre was 62 at the Battle of the Marne, and that the formidable Hindenburg was 67 at the beginning of the Great War. Finally, a swing back to earlier periods discloses that William the Conqueror was 39 when he won the Battle of Hastings, that Alexander the Great was only 33 when he died, and that Napoleon was 26 at the time of his first Italian campaign. From a survey of the past, therefore, it appears that genius and not age has been the vital force, though it may be argued that a modern general needs more time in which to absorb his complicated lessons than did leaders of simple man-to-man fighters such as William and Alexander. It may also be conjectured that leaders in ancient times did not live so long. Owing to lack of communications and the crude strategic demands of the period, their place inevitably had to be in the thick of the fray.

No fewer than 105 applications were received for the position of salesmancanvasser at the .Dunedin gasworks (reports the Gas Committee of the City Council). The applications have been referred to a sub-committee comprising the chairman (Cr W. A. Scott), Cr W. W, Batchelor, and the gas engineer to select six names for submission to the council. Rebroadcasts of events in the Empire, Games are announced by 4YA. Tonight, from 10 to 10.45 the station will rebroadcast descriptions of the swimming events, while at 6.15 p.m. to-mor-row the final of the 120yds hurdles will be heard, followed at 6.45 by the final of the mile, and at 11.45 by cycling races. The tramways manager’s statement of the traffic revenue for the last fortnightly period shows an increase in revenue of £1,703. The position from April 1, 1937, to January 29, 1938 (43 weeks), as compared with the same period for the previous year, shows a total increase of £22,936,. or 16.80 per cent. A verdict of not guilty was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court, Wellington, last night in the case m which Horace Baden Ginger, company director, was charged with negligently driving a motor car, thereby causing the death of Samuel Thompson. The annual conference of the New Zealand Library Association is to be held in Nelson during the present month. The chairman of the committee (Cr P. Neilson) and the librarian (Mr G. W. A. Dunningham) have been appointed to represent the Dunedin City Council. Dunedin pedestrians have just become accustomed to making use of the crossings provided at the various intersections when the markings in many instances have been obliterated in the process of top-dressing the road. This was particularly noticeable yesterday when the traffic to the races was at its maximum. There were long lines of motor vehicles with very few gaps, and the pedestrians had to cross the streets as best they could. A small fire, resulting from the seizing of a motor in a refrigerating plant in J. R. M'Kenzie’s premises, _ George street, was dealt with by the City Fire Brigade at 4.10 p.m. yesterday. The only damage was confined to soiqe insulating on the wiring of the motor. A grass fire in Gamma street, Roslyn, was responsible for the brigade being called out at 4.53 p.m. Authority has been granted by the Works Committee of the City Council for the payment of an additional sum of £75, to the Dunedin Ocean Beach Domain Board for the use of the St. Kilda tip during the current year. This sum represents the council’s proportion of the extra cost of operating the tip, due? to the recent increase in wages and to the necessity of employing an additional man on the area. The payment will be a charge on the allocation for tips.

A slight increase in the number of cases of infections diseases notified to the local office of the Department of Health during the week ended to-day is reported. lii the period a total of 10 cases was reported, there being two of tuberculosis in each of the Otago and Southland districts, one diphtheria, one erysipelas, and three scarlet fever patients in Otago, and one case of pneumonic influenza in Southland.

The Electric Power and Lighting Committee of the City Council reports that the application of the Works Committee to continue the street widening in Helensburgh road along the frontages of the sections recently leased by the electric department for the erection of three dwellings has been approved. The estimated cost of the work is £3.50, and this amount will be borne by the electric power and light department.

The Conciliation Council, which is considering in Wellington the application for a Dominion clerical award, has made no advance on Wednesday’s position, except agreement on a. clause already provided by law. The council met again to-day. A registered post card which travelled on the'first mail trip made by the Samoan ..Clipper on its return from New Zealand'to Honolulu at Christmas has been added to an already interesting collection of similar letters by Mr C. V. Downes, of Wairarapa. The card, which was signed by Captain Edwin Musick and his co-pilot, the former of whom lost his life when the clipper was burned near Samoa recently, was sent to an address in Los Angeles and returned from there by the ordinary mails to Mr Downes. It carried 2s 9d in postage, several cancellation marks, and a map of the route and photographs. In the same collection there is an envelope carried by Lincoln Ellsworth on his trip to Antarctica and on the flight over the South Polar regions. It was signed bv Lincoln Ellsworth.

The Library Committee of the City Council reports that Mr L. C. Gdanitz, cataloguer at the library, has forwarded his resignation, having accepted another position. It is proposed to fill Mr Gdanitz’s position by the appointment of Miss V. Richan, who is at present assistant cataloguer. It will also be necessary to appoint a junior male assistant at a commencing salary of £BO per annum, and applications are being called for this position. An Association telegram from Wellington states that Arthur Frederick Furness was sentenced to sis weeks’ hard labour, and Richard Hall was fined £lO to-day on charges of making false statements for the purpose of obtaining benefits under the Employment Promotion Act.

The Electric Power and Lighting Committee of the City Council states that the reports of the consulting engineers on the progress of work in connection with the Waipori pressure tunnel for the periods ended January 15 and 22 show that the contractors have 11 men employed, seven on excavation and concrete work in connection with the piers, and four on pipe construction work. Authority has been granted to reinforce the existing anchor block at the outlet from the tunnel, as recommended by the consulting engineers, Messrs Vickerman and _ Lancaster. A fine crack is showing in the exjsting concrete, and it is considered advisable to take the step authorised. For half an hour last night members of the executive of the Sopth Island Motor Union discussed, in committee, the New Zealand itinerary of Sir Stenson Cooke, general secretary of the Automobile Association, Great Britain, during his forthcoming visit to the Dominion, states the Christchurch ‘ Press.’ Some members spoke strongly on what they termed “ North Island influence ” regarding Sir Stenson’s visit, and later Mr W. R. Carey (chairman) announced for publication that members were unanimous in their view that “ it was unfortunate that Sir Stenson would spend three weeks in the North Island and only one in the South Island.” His itinerary, as a prominent motoring administrator, it was held, “ should be more evenly distributed.” _ Sir Stenson Cooke will arrive in Christchurch on March 22, and after a visit to Hanmcr will leave-for Dunedin on March 25, lunching at Timran, and taking afternoon tea at Oamaru.

Aucklanders consumed over 1,000,000 gallons more milk last year than in 1936, according to a report submitted to the annual meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council this morning, reports an Association message. In the council’s area a total of 7,833,700 gallons was sold, including cream-reduced milk equivalents. The increase is due partly to the fact that school milk was distributed throughout the year, and partly owing to the increased business done by milk bars. “It is evident that the public is realising more fully the nutritive value of milk,” commented the chairman, Mr I. J. Goldstine, who was re-elected to that position. Eye strain—for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Stunner and Watson Ltd., opticians. 2 Octagon, Dunedin,—TAdvt.l The P. and T. Department advises that where telephone subscriptions are unpaid by 15th inst. subscribers so offending will bo liable to bo disconnected. The Railway Department advertises in ibis issue train arrangements in connection with the Dunedin races at Wingalui to-inoriow.