Can't we initialize automatic array variables?

Question

I was referring to the book "Theory and Problems of Programming with C" by Gottfried (Schaum's Outline series, 2nd Edition, 1996). On page number 243 section 9.1 in chapter 9 on Arrays, it says:

Automatic arrays, unlike automatic variables, cannot be initialized. However, external and static array definitions can include the assignment of initial values if desired.

I did not understand the meaning of this highlighted statement. I tried to initialize array (with and without auto keyword) inside the function and do not see any issue with it.

void func1 (void)
{
    auto int array1[5] ={1,0,4,1,5};
    charVar1='M';
    printf("%d", *(array1+4));
}

Added the image of the page

Answer 1

To answer the first part

Automatic arrays, unlike automatic variables, cannot be initialized

^{assuming the "Automatic arrays" are actually "array data structure of automatic storage duration whose length is determined at run time"}

Yes, here what is referred to is called a variable length array. It cannot be initialized as for the simple logic, the size is determined at runtime.

To quote the C11 standard, chapter §6.7.9, Initialization (emphasis mine)

The type of the entity to be initialized shall be an array of unknown size or a complete object type that is not a variable length array type.

Otherwise, for a local variable without any storage class specifier, defaults to auto and an automatic array of non-VLA type, can be initialized, for sure.