JAPANESE ARMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 23

JAPANESE ARMY

IMPRESSIVE EFFICIENCY THE RECENT MANOEUVRES [from our own* con respondent] SINGAPORE, Oct. 31 Admiration for the high morale and efficiency of the personnel of the Japanese Army was expressed by MajorGeneral W. G. S. Dobbie, General Officer Commanding troops, Malaya, 011 his return to Singapore from Japan yesterday. Major-General Dobbie attended tho Imperial Japanese Army grand manoeuvres, which were held near Hokadato, in the 1101 th of Japan, at tho beginning of the month. Tho military attaches of all the great Powers, including Soviet Russia, were present at tho manoeuvres, which aroused considerable interest. Two divisions of the Japanese Army, in addition to Air Force units, took part. " Unfortunately the lirst two days of the manoeuvre* were marred by heavy rain and a typhoon," Major-General Dobbio stated in an interview.

"Visibility was extremely poor, and observers were able to obtain only an extremely limited view of what was going on. [ can definitely, say, however, that the spirit of the Japanese troops was excellent. In spite of the rain and mud and general adverse weather conditions tlie.v always came up smiling." IMajor-Ueneral Dobbie said it was impossible i'or him to express an opinion as to the technical proficiency of mechanised units, but he could state from his own observations that general equipment was of a very high standard. His Imperial Highness the Emperor of Japan attended the manoeuvres, but a meeting which was to have taken place between the Emperor and MajorGeneral Dobbie had to bo cancelled because of the weather.