BRITAIN’S NEW ARMY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23883, 27 February 1943, Page 5

BRITAIN’S NEW ARMY

REVIEW BY SIR JAMES GRIGG REFERENCE TO BTH ARMY (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Feb. 25. The reorganisation and training of a field army in Britain, required by the change from a defensive to an offensive role, was the chief point of interest in the speech by Sir James Grigg, Minister of War. introducing the Army estimates in the House of Commons. Last year, he said, saw disaster turn into the beginning of victory. It had revealed the great resilience of the Russians, and the enormous resources of the Allies and had renewed on the battlefield that great union of British. American, and French troops which saw its first expression in 1918. Sir James Grigg referred to the Bth Army as the finest instrument of war so far fashioned in the history of the British Empire. He specially mentioned General Alexander's masterly withdrawal from Burma, which had prevented the Japanese reaching Assam before the rains came. The movement of American troops to Britain had involved rehousing a considerable part of the British Army and thrown a heavy burden on works services. Arrangements had to be made to furnish for the United Slates forces everything that could be handed over without seriously impeding supplies for the British Armies. All classes of supplies had been provided and the day-to-day maintenance of British forces all over the world made continuous demands on resources. Millions of tons of stores and half a million men had been sent overseas. Everything had been done to ensure that the Army would go into action organised, equipped, and trained belter than the enemy.

The. process of decentralising administration from the War Office to commands and from commands downwards continued steadily. The objects of this policy were to speed up decision and action, to encourage initiative, to avoid unnecessary reference to higher authority, and to reduce paper work. Half the returns hitherto called for from the field forces would be abolished. The most notable innovation in the new training had been the introduction of realistic battle training, which was the best prelude that could be devised to actual warfare. When the Army went abroad it would have to be self-contained, and every effort was being made to supply all requirements. Sir James Grigg also referred to the training of Army Co-operation Command forces, aerodrome forces, and air borne troops, and paid a tribute to the part played by the Home Guard and women’s services.