USE OF VETERAN DIVISIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25458, 12 February 1944, Page 6

USE OF VETERAN DIVISIONS

WAR POLICY CRITICISED CANBERRA, Feb. 11. The three veteran divisions of the A.I.F. were being “ overworked, overstrained, and overtested,” declared the Leader of the Opposition, Mr R. G. Menzies, in the "House of Representatives. Mr Menzies said he was dissatisfied with Australia’s present war policy, which seemed to involve the concentration of Australia’s best fighting men in the jungles. This seemed to be insufficiently related to any longrange plan for defeating the Japanese in their own homes. He could see no . way of doing that which did . not involve a drive from China. Mr Menzies added that he was not happy about the transfer from fighting jobs of leading Australian generals. , A secret session of both Federal Houses to probe the recent changes in Australian Army commands was urged by the Opposition leader in the Senate. Senator McLeay. Speakers in the Senate and the House of'Representatives alleged that the following Australian officers had been “ side-tracked ” from fighting to administrative positions:—General Sir Iven Mackay, General H. D. Wynter, General Sir Edmund Herring, Lieu-tenant-general Rowell, Lieutenantgeneral Sir John Layarack, and Lieu-tenant-general Sir Leslie Morshead.

The Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, later commented that the work being done by the officers named was proof that the best use was being made of their services.