WHITE PAPER ON DEFENCE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21726, 7 March 1936, Page 17

WHITE PAPER ON DEFENCE

LABOUR’S UNQUALIFIED OPPOSITION DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY (united press association— coptbight.) (Received March 6, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 5. When the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Neville Chamberlain) was asked in the House of Commons about the method of meeting the cost of the White Paper defence programme, he said that he considered it woilld be more appropriate to give such information in his budget statement. Mr Chamberlain added: “Owing to the flexible and variable character of the proposals, as well as to the difficulty of estimating accurately beforehand the possible rate of execution, it is not practicable to say at this stage, even approximately, what will be the total cost of the programme. For the same reason it would be premature at present to frame any estimates of the additional annual cost of upkeep of the fighting forces. The defence debate on Monday will be on the following motion to be moved by the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin): “That this House approves the defence proposals of the Government which are outlined in the White Paper.” A Labour Opposition amendment states: “As the safety of the country and the peace of the world cannot be secured by reliance on armaments, but only by resolute pursuit of a policy of international understanding, adherence to the covenant of the League of Nations, disarmament, progressive improvement of international labour standards, and economic co-operation to remove the causes of war, this House cannot agree to a policy which, in fact, seeks security in national ments alone and incites to a ruinous arms race between the nations inevitably leading to war, and the House views with alarm the proposals for the reorganisation of industry on a war basis, which will enormously extend vested interests in arms manufacture and create a serious menace to organised labour and to trade union standards; and it has no confidence in his Majesty’s Ministers, whose unworthy and ambiguous foreign policy has largely contributed to the present state of world unrest.” The debate will extend over two days. INCREASED ARMY ESTIMATES BRITAIN UNDERTAKES REORGANISATION CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS REPORTED LONDON, March 5. The army estimates are the highest since 1923, amounting to £49,281,000, an increase of £5,731,000, compared with last year. They include £1.555.000 for special measures in the Italo-Abyssinian dispute. The estimates provide for further modernisation of the military forces, apart from the acceleration and expansion of the programme outlined in the White Paper. Special attention is being paid to coastal air defence.. Experiments are being made with a more powerful anti-aircraft gun. > Mr A. Duff-Cooper, Secretary of State for War, 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 are at present horse cavalry, combining them with the tank brigade. The depleted strength of the territorials is causing some concern and it is hoped that measures now under consideration will improve recruiting. The regular army totals 158,400, compared with 152,000 last year, but because of the number leaving the Colours at least 36,000 new recruits are required. There, is a serious shortage of recruits, though a better physical type is coming forward. The production of the latest type of tank is continuing, as it has proved a most successful development. A small inconspicuous fourwheeled vehicle has reached stage where it is replacing horeje^ for army transport. ' " ©no. Infantry Changes The Secretary for War, in a memorandum on the army estimates, says that it has been decided to reorganise the infantry into brigades of three rifle battalions and one machine-gun battalion. The increases in the personnel of the army by 6200 are due to the development of air defence, the modernisation of coast defence garrisons, and of certain defended ports abroad and the requirements of the army on mobilisation. Of anti-aircraft artillery, it is stated that experiments are being made with a more powerful gun. and the equipment of the territorial army units for air defence is being pressed forward. The normal distribution of the principal units of the army remains generally as in 1935, except that one additional battalion of infantry will be in Malaya and in consequence another battalion of foot guards is included in the normal infantry garrison of six battalions in Egypt. Because of the political situation abroad, certain temporary redistributions of troops have taken place. It is intended to proceed with the conversion of the remaining light artillery brigades into mechanised army field brigades equipped with two 4.5 in howitzer batteries and one 18-pouhder battery. ■ . Preparations for the manufacture of the new Bren machine-gun are now in hand. An anti-kick rifle has been adopted as the first line of defence against armoured fighting vehicles, A new type of machine-gun carrier has passed Its experimental trials satisfactorily. A satisfactory