TERRITORIALS ON WAR ESTABLISHMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 11

TERRITORIALS ON WAR ESTABLISHMENT.

BRITISH DECISION. 32 Divisions For Service Overseas. CHANGE IN THREE WEEKS. British Official Wireless. (Received 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 29. The Territorial Field Army is to be brought forthwith up to war establishment, and war establishmentis to be doubled, making 32 divisions available for service overseas in place! of 19 announced by Mr. Hore-Belisha, Secretary for War, three weeks ago. I The announcement of the increase in the establishment of Territorials was made in the House of Commons by Mr. Chamberlain, who indicated that it was the first result of a re-examination of every aspect of national life which, as he stated in his Birmingham speech, was necessitated by the new international situation. In the course of this review the Government had been impressed with the need of availing itself still further of the spirit of voluntary service, which was manifest throughout the country, and in particular the Government felt that it could not allow would-be recruits of the Territorial Army to be refused because of the units to which they applied being already over strength.

Establishment Doubled. ' Accordingly, the Territorial Field 8 Army, which was now on a peace establishment of 130,000 men, would be raised ? forthwith to war establishment —an addition of about 40,000 men. The r Territorial Field Army so brought up 8 to war establishment would be doubled * and would, therefore, be allotted an establishment of 340,000. 11 .Mr. Chamberlain mentioned the in- , crease in war potential as necessary to maintain increased force, and in reply to Sir Archibald Sinclair. Liberal Leader, who raised the question of the ! Ministry of Supply, said the Government had not yet had an opportunity of considering whether the increase . would require any modification of the . views the Government hitherto held on that question. However, it would give the matter full consideration. ' Mr. Chamberlain also confirmed the assumption voiced by Mr. Arthur Greenwood (Labour) that the proposal was evidence of the Government's opinion that it had not by any means exhausted what could be done by voluntary service. Mr. Chamberlain, in a previous answer, admitted that the question of compulsory national service was discussed in conversations with M. Bonnet, French Foreign Minister, .last week, but he declined to divulge what passed in the course of their talks. Sir Archibald Sinclair pledged the Liberals' support of recruitment. Mr. M. J. Bellenger (Lab., Bassellow) asked: Will this make any difference to the number of divisions that Mr. HoreBelisha announced on March 8 as being available for overseas service? Mr. Chamberlain: Yes. it doubles the number ultimately available. Mr. R. A. Butler. Foreign Secretary, informed Mr. G. Mander (Lib., Wolverhampton) that the Government would not consider adhering to the FrancoSoviet Pact. NEW STRENGTH. Conscription Not Likely In Britain. CLOSE UNION WITH FRANCE. Independent Cable Service. r (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 29. The British Territorial field army does not include 80,000 anti-aircraft personnel i and other non-field units. Thus, presumably, the total Territorial strength of all units, will he nearly 300,000 men. Mr. Chamberlain's answer that he s felt Britain could demonstrate that the voluntary system would answer all needs I is interpreted to mean that he will not , introduce conscription.

The extent of Franco-British co-opera-tion is increasingly revealed. It is learned that General Georges, right-hand man of Marshal Gamelin. has been in England incognito for a fortnight. The Air Minister. M. Chainbre, is likely to come to London next week. i