REVIEW BY KING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22161, 15 July 1935, Page 9

REVIEW BY KING

ALDERSHOT TROOPS IMPOSING SPECTACLE MECHANISED SECTIONS POWER OF MODERN ARMS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 14. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. July 13 A special representative of the Australian Associated Press reports that the King's Silver Jubilee review to-day of 10,000 troops of the Aldershot command took an unprecedented form.

Whereas previous reviews were dependent for their magnificence on long lines of troops in uniforms of blue, scarlet and gold, the modern khaki aims at concealing the soldier, hence the pageantry was lost.

Accordingly it was arranged for His Majesty to inspect tho troops marching past on tho Rushmoor tho sceno of the famous tattoo. But it is not the coat that makes the soldier. The King and Queen and 50,000 spectators, in spite of the fact that the troops were in khaki, witnessed a stirring spectacle of Britain's modern army in which the growth of mechanisation was demonstrated.

His Majesty, in Field Marshal's uniform, on riding on to the parade ground was received by the First Cavalry Brigade with a Royal salute of 31 guns. Then a long column of troops on horseback and on foot began to pour past him, the Royai Horse Artillery, one battery mechanised, leading them in accordance with ancient tradition.

Throe regiments of cavalr f then rode past—a picturesque pageants of shimmering steel, brass and tossing manes. After them 20 battalions of infantry, with bayonets gleaming and historic colours emblazoned with battle honours floating on the breeze, all led by distinguished generals, swung by. Massed bands played each regiment's timehonoured march. Finally came a long stream of mechanised arms, including a battalion of tanks, led by Major-General Sir E. D. Swinton, inventor of tanks, now attached to the Royal Tank Corps. The mechanised section was undoubtedly impressive, presenting indications of the power of modern armaments. Dragons hauling heavy howitzers thundered past. Finally the Guards were on parade and, with the colours of all the infantry battalions, advanced in review order, and gave the Royal salute and three cheers for His Majesty—a fitting end to the Army's Silver Jubilee tribute.