JUGOSLAVIA’S ARMY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23299, 8 April 1941, Page 7

JUGOSLAVIA’S ARMY

WAR STRENGTH SET AT 1,000,000

SHORTAGE OF MODERN WEAPONS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 6. Tke Jugoslav Army, when fully mobilised on a war footing, would consist of 30 infantry divisions, one guards division and three cavalry or mobile divisions. It might prove, at first, impossible to equip all these adequately. The Jugoslav Army is peculiar in that it contains neither army corps nor brigades. Having regard to the ■limits set by the available equipment, the total strength "of the Jugoslav Army in war may be put down at about 1,000,000.

The infantry equipment is good, though there is at present a lack of modern anti-tank and close support weapons. There is also a certain shortage of modem artillery, since many of the guns and howitzers date from the last war.

A good many senior officers have beep superannuated and the present tendency is to replace- them by younger officers. Young officers have been understudying others so that they would b e available to supersede their seniors on the outbreak of war. Compulsory service in the Jugoslav Army IS for a term of two years. Two classes are called up every two years and it is customary for one to be re-

leased from military service during the winter months.

The Jugoslav troops are very hardy and during the last war won the reputation of being as good infantry as any in Europe. It is expected that this reputation will be maintained. Measures have been taken to deal with the menace of parachutists and air-borpe troops. Apart from the lack of modern artillery, Jugoslavia’s greatest weakness is perhaps a lack of armoured fighting vehicles, both tanks and armoured cars. Two of its three cavalry divisions are in process of conversion to mobile—mechanised —divisions with tanks, but it is uncertain whether these mobile divisions could be fully manned immediately.