BRITAIN’S TRIUMPH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 8

BRITAIN’S TRIUMPH

ORGANISATION AND SKILL j ! “WE SHALL BE VICTORIOUS” AUSTRALIAN BRIGADIER’S OBSERVATIONS [ Fer Frees Association.} AUCKLAND, Dec. 6. Impressions or Britain’s war activities, which he described as a triumph of organisation and skill, were given by Brigadier P. M. McFarlane, C.8.E., 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 at the disposal of the War Oflice. but a war appointment could not bo 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 commands in Britain have all been given to younger senior officers, few of whom a'e over the age of 45 years. They have been very carefully selected from the regular forces and arc 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 no: the confusion or waste of manpower 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 is 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 sub-machine-guns and other modern war weapons. It is not like the firing of the ordinary Army rifle. “To put untrained British youngsters up against Nazis with modern weapons would be suicidal,” he continued. "Therefore the training must he 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 oe much shorter than was at first expected, and, it goes without saying, we shall be victorious/-