N.Z. CHIEF OF STAFF

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1941, Page 9

N.Z. CHIEF OF STAFF

Mineral duigan retires At Own Request \ [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, May 20. The impending retirement of Ma-jor-General Sir J. Duigan was announced by Hon. W. Nash (ActingPrime Minister) to-day. “It is with the greatest reluctance,” said Mr Nash, “that the Government has acceded to Sir J. Duigan’s request that he should be permitted to retire. While he has for some vim been anxious to go, he consented to remain at his post at the special request of the Government. But now he feels that his health, which has heen indifferent for some time, w.ll no longer stand the severe strain which the duties of Chief of the General Staff demand. “I take this opportunity on behalf of the Government, of paying a sincere tribute to Sir J. Duigan’s outstanding services. Because of their confidence in him, and because of his experience and sound grasp of the defence problems of New Zealand, his term has been extended on several occasions. It was his duty to plan and to organise mobilisation and training of the New. Zealand forces, and this task he and his staff performed in a manner which must earn them the appreciation and gratitude of the people of the Dominion. His wish to do his duty, at whatever cost to himself, is, I know, the mark of a good soldier, and I am voicing the opinion of all who have been associated with him, in saying that no soldier could have served his country better than has Sir J. Duigan, during the four years of his term as Chief of the General Staff. Prior to his retirement, Sir J. Duigan proposes to Visit the main camps throughout the Dominion.

“The New Zealand Government asked the British Government for the loan of a senior military for a few months to advise the New Zealand Government ’on problems relating to organisation and training of the New Zealand military forces,” said Mr Nash. “The services of Lieutenant General Sir Guy Williams, late General Officer Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Command, have been placed at the disposal of the New Zealand Government, and he is on the way to New Zealand, accompanied by a small staff. THE NEW CHIEF. Lieutenant General Sir Guy Charles Williams, K.C.M.G., D. 5.0., was born at Bangalore in 1881. He was educated at Sherborne School, and entered the Army in 1900. He became a captain in 1910, temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in 1915, Brigadi-er-General in 1918, Colonel in 1923, and Major-General in 1924. He served in the Great War from 1914 to 1918, ’and received several decorations, also being mentioned in despatches seven times. He was on the staff at Quetta, 1922-23; Deputy Military Secretary, War Office, 1923-27; Army 'lnstructor, {lmperial Defence College, 1928-32; Chief Engineer, Aidershot Command, 1932-34; Commander, Staff College, Quetta, 1934, and later he held commands in Britain. He was married in 1912, and has two sons.

Health of Troops

IN NORTH ISLAND.

WELLINGTON. May 20.

The health of the 9,500 troops engaged in the recent central fieid force manoeuvres, was well aoove 'expectations, taking into account the Winter conditions experienced, and the fact that a number of men of the engineer units were wet through for 24 hours, during the flood rescue operations at Palmerston North. In the ten days’ trek, 116 men were admitted to the public hospitals at Wellington, Palmerston North, and Masterton. They had all types of complaints, from cuts, bruises, coins and mumps, to a broken leg. There were 50 men left in the hospitals nt the week-end, indicating that the 6o discharged had trivial complaints. Though over a thousand vehicles were used in the manoeuvres, tne number of accident cases, as distinct from sickness, was particularly light.