NEW COMMANDER FOR 8th ARMY

Southland Times, Issue 25513, 6 November 1944, Page 5

NEW COMMANDER FOR 8th ARMY

General Leese Promoted

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, November 4. The Bth Army command has changed hands. General Sir Oliver Leese has been appointed to command the Uth Army Group in the South-east • Asia Command. This group contains the 14th Army. Lieutenant-General Sir Richard L. McCreery, who has been appointed to succeed General Leese, says in a personal message to the Sth Army: “It was the proudest day of my life when I was appointed to take over the Sth Army from General Leese. It will be difficult to follow two such distinguished commanders as my predecessors, but I shall do my utmost to maintain your great traditions and look after the interests of all sections of this famous Allied army. I really appreciate the many problems and hardships which long service overseas has imposed on many soldiers in the Bth Army. We must go all out to finish the job quickly. The Germans are not yet beaten. They are still hitting hard on all three fronts, but their difficulties are increasing rapidly. With your whole-hearted support the Bth Army, together with our comrades of the American sth Army, will play an essential part in the final defeat of the enemy in Europe.” General McCreery is no stranger to General Mark Clark, the sth Army commander. He planned and conducted the brilliant crossing of the Garigliano last January, which won the bridgehead from which American and French troops launched their offensive in May. General McCreery is a tank expert. As Chief of Staff to General Alexander he helped to plan the knockout to the Axis in Africa. He has had many months campaigning in Italy as commander of the 10th British Corps, which landed at Salerno as part of the sth Army. ... , The Times correspondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy says that General Leese bade farewell to the Bth Army some time ago after leading it beyond the Gothic Line. His victories entitled him to be regarded as one of the war s great generals.