Troops Advance Into Cyrenaica

Northern Advocate, 20 November 1941, Page 5

Troops Advance Into Cyrenaica

“Shake Up” In Imperial High Command Puts Youth At Helm

LONDON, November 19. IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE BRITISH HIGH COMMAND 1 ARE ANNOUNCED TODAY. The Commander in Chief of the British Home Forces (General Sir Alan Brooke) becomes Chief of the Imperial General Staff, replacing General Sir John Dill, who retires with the rank of Field Marshal and is appointed Governor of Bombay. The Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff (Lieut.-General Sir Harry Pownall), also retires from his post, as he is needed for a very important position as yet unnamed. He is succeeded by Major-General A. E. Nye. General Sir Alan Brooke is succeeded as Commander in Chief of the Home Forces by Lieut.-General B. C. T. Paget, of the South Eastern Command. Sir John Dill will relinquish his post on Christmas Day, when he will be 60 years of age. The “Daily Express” suggests that Lieut.-General Pownall may be sent to the Caucasus.

Ready For Action The paper adds : “Changes in army command are usually made after a battle and they are then a bad portent; but those we have now made are not. They are a sign that fighting days have come again. “The men who have been making the preparations move aside, and the men we meant for action move up to take their commands. “The promoted officers are young as geaierals go, and know how the Germans fight. We expect hardhitting and quick thinking. We, and not the Germans, must decide how strenuous this battle shall be.” The military correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says : “The changes are of great significance! They mean that technical knowledge of modern warfare and a more youthful viewpoint are being given higher places in the supreme command of the British army at a time when its tasks are the greatest in its history.”. Inspires Confidence The “News Chronicle” sums up with the statement: “The whole shake-up inspires confidence.” Mystery Man The military correspondent of the “Daily Express” says: “Major-Gen-eral Nye is .probably the youngest vice chief ever appointed in the British army. He is the army’s mystery man, who is described as a soldier born to command. “Since the last war Major-General Nye has studied army co-operation with the R.A.F. and has held staff appointments at the War Office and the Staff College. “He became one of the ‘brains’ at the War Office, when he was Director of Staff Duties. Major-General Nye’s brilliant knowledge of strategy led to his being frequently called in for consultations with his chiefs. He is almost unknown to the army at large. “General Brooke is the greatest artillery expert in the world and has an amazing technical knowledge of guns.” Proved At Dunkirk “The Times.” in a leader, says General Brooke by his leadership of the Second Corps during the withdrawal from Dunkirk, and his reorganisation of the British Expeditionary Force after its return from France, revealed qualities fitting him for the highest responsibilities. The “Daily Herald” asks what is behind Sir John Dill’s departure.

commanded the Second Army Corps, British Expeditionary Force, in France. Sir Harry Pownall Sir Harry Pownall was Chief of the General Staff, British Expeditionary Force, in 1940 and later Inspector-Gen-eral of the Home Guard. He was Military Deputy Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence in 1936, commanded the School of Artillei’y. Larkhill, from 1936 to 1938, and then held the post of Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at the War Offico until 1940. He is 54 years of age.

Rose From Ranks Major-General Nye is 46. He was commissioned from the ranks in the last war and reached the rank of acting-Captain at the Armistice. He was General Staff Officer, Third Grade, ‘at the R.A.F. co-operation school at Aldershot from 1926 to 1928, and went to the War Office in 1931 as G. 5.0., 2, holding this appointment for 15 months. He was at the staff college for over three years and returned to the War Office in 1936. In 1937 he was given command of the First Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment. He was promoted Major-General in 1940 when he became Director of Staff Duties at the War Office. Lieut.-General Paget Lieut.-General Paget, who is 53. has been Chief of the General Staff, Home Forces, since last year. During the Norwegian campaign he was in command of the British forces at Namsos and won high praise for his conduct of the evacuation. He was formerly commandant at the Staff College. Camberley. and commanded the college in 1939-40. Sir John Dill Sir John Dill, who is now 60. had been chief of the Imperial General Staff since June, 1940. He held- various staff appointments from 1926 until 1934, after which he spent two years at the War Office as Director of Military Operations and Intelligence. He commanded the British forces in Palestine in 1936-37. and was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief. Aldershot Command, from 1937 until 1939. He commanded the First Army Corps in France, and was apointed vice-chief of the Imperial General Staff on April 27. 1940.

“Is it true that the army, even in war time, adheres to the iron rules of age limit ? If so, adherence is crazy, it says: “Is there dissatisfaction with Sir John Dill's conduct of his crucial functions ? ” The paper asks the Government to give the nation a more detailed explanation of the reasons for the drastic change.

Regret, No Bitterness Sir John Dill, in a statement, said: “I have always been anxious for the young men in the army to get on, and that can happen only if the older men give way to them. “I hand over to General Brooke with the greatest confidence. General Paget is one of our finest generals. MajorGeneral Nye is an officer of my old regiment whom I marked out for rapid advance. Lieut.-General Pownall is required for a very important appointment which will be announced soon. “I leave the service with the deepest regret, but without bitterness.” Sir Alan Brooke Sir Alan Brooke is 58 years old. He joined the Royal Field Artillery in 1902. After the last war he held many important staff posts, and was Director of Military Training at the War Office in 1936-37. Subsequently he commanded the mobile division and the AntiAircraft Corps. In 1939 he was appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Anti-Aircraft Command, and relinquished this post the same year tc become General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command. He