War Marches On

One of the most tear-jerking farewells in its 250-year history was said last week in Edinburgh by the 4th & 7th Dragoon Guards (a regiment of cavalry combining the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons and the 7th Dragoon Guards or Princess Royal's). Henceforth, in order to keep up with the pace of modern war, members of the regiment will go forth to die or be maimed not on plunging chargers but in armored cars. In its last mounted parade before mechanization, the regiment heard Lieut. General Sir Charles Grant read a message of consolation from its honorary colonel, Major General Arthur Solly-Flood:

''The horse has no means of defense these days. I do not think you would like to see your old friends wounded and suffering. . . . The saddest word is goodby. You will have many changes and you will no longer have your faithful friends. But you will maintain those glorious traditions of which we are proud."

This bit of typical British sentiment was not matched, however, when the British Army said a far more significant farewell. Like the horses of the 4th & 7th, three full generals, four lieutenant generals, six major generals were retired before their time, not because anyone feared to see them suffer in battle but because plump, red-tape cutting War Secretary Leslie Hore-Belisha wanted to promote young men with new ideas. The retirement age for the two highest ranks having been cut from 67 to 60, and of major generals from 62 to 57, the Army Gazette simply listed the retirements. The 13, including two former members of the Army Council and an Aide-de-Camp General to the King, were ushered out to keep the army up-to-date, and no one uttered the saddest word, "good-by."

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