ARMY ESTIMATES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 123, 6 March 1936, Page 5

ARMY ESTIMATES

AN INCREASE IN BRITAIN. HIGHEST SUM FOR FIVE YEARS. MECHANISATION PROCEEDING. TERRITORIAL RECRUITS WANTED (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, March 5. The Army Estimates are the highest since 1923, amounting to £49,281,000, an increase of £5,731,000, compared with those of last year. They include £1,555,000 on account of special measures in connection with the ItaloAtjyssjnian dispute. The estimates provide for further modernisation of the military, the preparations excluding the acceleration arid expansion programme outlined in tlie White Paper. attention is being paid to coastal air defence. Experiments are being conducted with a more powerful anti-aircraft gun. The Secretary of State for War (Mr A. Duff-Cooper) reports considerable progress with the mechanisation and modernisation of the Army, It has been decided to create a mechanised mobile division by mechanising units which at present ate horse cavalry, combining them with the Tank Brigade. The depleted strength of the Territorials is a matter of some concern and it is hoped that tlie measures now under consideration will improve recruiting.

The Regular Army totals 158,400; compared with 152,000 last year, hut owing to the number leaving the colours at least 36,000 new recruits will be required. There is a serious shbitage of recruits, though a better physical type is coming forward. Preparations for manufacture of the Bren machine-gun to replace the Lewis gun have been delayed by the scarcity of skilled labour. The production of the latest type of tank is continuing, as it has proved a most successful development. The small, inconspicuous four-wheeled vehicle has reached the stage where it is replacing horses for army transport.

LABOUR PARTY’S ATTITUDE. OPPOSITION TO WHITE PAPER. AMENDMENT TABLED IN HOUSE. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 5. The National Council of Labour lias decided to support the Parliamentary Labour Party in opposing the proposals in the White Paper on defence. Following a series of conferences of labour bodies, the leader of tlie party (Major C. R. Attlee) tabled an amendment to the White Paper, disagreeing with the policy of seeking security through national armaments, intensifying a ruinous arms race that will inevitably lead to war, and declaring no confidence . in Ministers whose unworthy, ambiguous foreign policy has largely contributed to the present unrest in tlie woild.

CRITICISM OF WHITE PAPER. "VAGUE AND ELUSIVE.” LONDON, March 5. The ‘Sun-H'erald” News Service says it is evident that the White Paper on defence will at attacked from all sides. The Conservatives are dissatisfied w.tn it, though as a whole they arc_not so condemnatory as tlie more extreme elements which, according to the "Daily Mail,” regard the programme as "vague, evasive, indefinite and nebulous.” The "Daily Express” likewise joins the campaign, demanding "bigger and better things.” COMMENDATION IN GERMANY.

"DOES NOT FEEL MENACED.” LONDON, March 4. The Berlin correspondent of "The Times” says that a semi-official commentary indicates that Germany has no quarrel with the British W hite Paper on defence, and does not feel herself menaced. On the contrary, she holds the view that it is the right and duty of every nation to possess the necessities of security. The commentary adds: "It is only fair and just to say that Germany should make the same claims for herself as she concedes to others.”