DEPUTY CHIEFS OF STAFF.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 123, 23 April 1940, Page 7

DEPUTY CHIEFS OF STAFF.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT. TO RELIEVE PRESSURE. (From Daventry.) In order to relievo the pressure of duties upon the Chiefs of Staff ol the three Services, it was announced from No. 10 Downing Street, last night, that it had been decided to appoint DeputyChiefs. It has been apparent that increasing strain has been placed upon the Chiefs of Staff with the progress of the war, and there is a likelihood that this will increase with the continuation of the conflict. Accordingly it lias been decided to appoint to the new positions Vice-Admiral T. S. V. Phillips, General Sir John Dill, and Air-Vice-Marshal R. E. C. Peirsc. Admiral Phillips, C. 8., has been Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff from June, 1939. Admiral Phillips who is 52 years of age, was navigator of the cruiser Bacchante-at the Dardanelles in tbe last war; and of tbe Lancaster, in the Far East, in which he was made acting commander. From 1932 to 1935 he was flag captain and Chief of Staff on the East Ladies Station ; he then went to the Admiralty as Director of Plans. He became Commodore Commanding the Home Fleet Destroyer Fotillas in April, 1938, and rear-admiral in January, 1939. General Sir John Greer Dill, D. 5.0., Commander of the First Army Corps, got his baptism of fire at the age ol 19, emerging from the South African campaign with the Queen’s Medal with five clasps. Captain before his 29tli birthday, he went over in 1914 as Brigade Major leading the Twenty-fifth Infantry. The Canadians in the early hectic days had him to lead them, till Haig snapped him up. In the headquarters of the great Scots soldier Dill proved he had few equals as a planner. \Vo had men there who could see two moves ahead ; Dill seemed able to foresee six, stated an observer. Allied Governments poured honours on him. A first-class chance came to Sir John with the Palestine rising. He took the troops out there, tackled a lingo job, and finally left for home with Palestine quiet. Aii; Vice-Marshal R. E. C. Peirsc, D.S.O , was formerly Director of Operations and Deputy Chief of Air Staff. A son of Admiral Sir Richard Peirse, he served throughout the Great War, and from 1933-36 was AirOfficer Commanding Palestine and Transjordan.