AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1943, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

OFFICERS AND RANKS

(Recd. 1.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 15. Australian military officers, it is understood, will not be brought before courts martial in future on charges of committing a breach of military discipline by drinking with other ranks; Interest had been aroused by a case in which a Major was acquitted by a court martial on a charge of having drunk intoxicating liquor in public with two non-com-missioned officers “to the prejudice of good order and military - discipline.” The prosecutor cited an “unwritten law” forbidding such a practice which is not specifically' banned by the King’s Regulations.” “The Court’s refusal to make a military offence of this incident will be generally approved,” commented the “Sydney Sun” editorially. “There is no ground for any belief that discipline can be prejudiced because off duty it may be reasonably relaxed in accord with friendship.” Several officers said that the decision of the court martial would meet with the approval of the entire Australian Army. “We hold strongly to the view that the Australian Army is a democratic army,” said one. “In time of peace a man makes many friends and although in time of war some men are appointed to commissioned rank that is no«reason why earlier friendships* should be discouraged. That an attempt should have been made, presumably on high authority. to break down the democratic foundations of our Army is not merely to be regretted but also strongly resisted.”