BRITAIN’S EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23985, 7 December 1939, Page 8

BRITAIN’S EFFORT

WAR-TIME ACTIVITIES TRIUMPH OF ORGANISATION RIVAL ARMIES COMPARED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. Impressions of Britain’s war activities, which he described as a triumph of organisation and skill, were given by Brigadier P. M. McFarlane, C.8.E., of the Australian Staff Corps, who is returning from furlough in England pending his retirement. Brigadier McFarlane was commandant of the Western Australian Forces until he reached the age of retirement in May. When war was declared the Military Board of Australia, at his request, placed his services ah the disposal of the War Office, but a war appointment could not be found for him with the British Forces. He hopes to return to England next year and take up an -appointment. Brigadier McFarlane, who has had about 40 years’ military service, including two years in the Boer war, stated that the commands in Britain have all been given to the younger senior officers, few of whom are over the age of 45 years. They have been very carefully selected from the regular forces, and are alert and extremely efficient.

Although on furlough, Brigadier McFarlane was in close touch with the mobilisation activities of the British forces, which he stated were a marvel of organisation. The training of the new British soldiers was being carried out very thoroughly by highly-trained experts, all of whom were young, alert, and fit. There was not' the confusion or waste of man-power which obtained in 1914. ,« “ It is considered that Hitler has the largest and most superb fighting force in the world,” said the brigadier. “ Its training and morale are no better than the armies of the Allies, but it is thought to be superior in two highly important things—mechanisation and skill in using it. Skill is especially important, for the use of the submachine guns and other, modern war weapons is not like the firing of the ordinary army rifle. “To put 'Untrained British youngsters up against the Nazis with modern weapons would be suicidal,” he continued. “Therefore, the training must be complete and thorough before drafts are sent to the front; Everything in Britain seems to be highly organised, and the enormous force resulting from this will presently overwhelm the enemy. The opinion of some high authorities is that the duration of the war will be much shorter than was at first expected, and it goes without saying that we shall be victorious.”