BRITISH ARMY TO-DAY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25083, 15 January 1947, Page 3

BRITISH ARMY TO-DAY

500,000 TO 750,000 MEN OVERSEAS PLANS FOR FUTURE OF SERVICE (From A. W. MITCHELL, Special Correspondent. N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 14. Between 500,000 and 750,000 men are serving with the British Army overseas, fulfilling Britain’s military commitments. While demobilisation has been proceeding, men have had to be supplied to ensure that these overseas forces are maintained. At the same time the War Office has been conducting a campaign to secure 100,000 volunteers to bring the peacetime Regular Army up to a permanent figure of 250,000. . ‘ British soldiers are serving with the Army- of the Rhine in Germany, and with the Central Mediterranean Force in Italy and Austria. There are also forces in Egypt, Palestine, Greece, India, Malaya, and Japan. The largest concentration is in Germany, which is also being used as a training.ground. The British soldier’s post-war role, particularly in Palestine, Greece, and Indonesia, has been unattractive, ior he has had to combine soldiering with policing. The continuation of conscription, with the regular calling up of age groups, has helped the War Office to meet commitments. The recruiting campaign, which started slowly, now brings in about 3000 men a month. At least 4000 a month will be required to maintain the Regular Army at full strength. This will be 50,000 stronger than in 1939, when the regular force was 200,000. Britain is spending £682,000,000 on the Army during the current vear. compared with £82.000,000 in 1939 This, of course, includes a sum for the liquidation of war-time commitments. Until the Government’s conscription plans are announced in the House of Commons, it will not be ppssible to estimate with any degree of accuracy what will be the size of the combined regular and conscript army, but it is possible that it will be about 500,000. The Army will, in all likelihood, receive a greater proportion of conscripts that the Royal Navy or the Royal Air Force. This enforced service will be for 18 months, but liability for service will not end there, for after a period with the colours /bung men will be expected to serve for the next five and a half years with the Territorial Army. Territorials It is expected that the Territorials will have double their pre-war strength. In 1939 the figure was 206,000. It is intended that in future the Territorial Army will have much more serious commitments. It is expected to have a much higher standard of training, since a large percentage of its mepibers will have served at least 18 months with the Army. It will have nine divisions—six infantry, ? rmour . e d. and one air-borne, in addition to independent armoured and infantry brigades. Its anti-aircraft command will be organised into five groups, each containing regular and Territorial brigades. All nine divisions JJ'"! at the full strength of about 20,000 men each. One of many interesting decisions affecting Britain’s peace-time Army is .that every officer must have served ?t least six months in the ranks before gaining a commission. Men in the ranks who are recommended will go to Sandhurst if they are selected. There will also be a scheme by which schoolboys wishing to make the Army their career will serve six months in the ranks and then, if they receive endorsement as being suitable for commissions. they also will go to Sandhurst. In future Sandhurst will be known as the Royal Military Academy, and will train artillery and engineer officers, who formerly studied at Woolwich, as well as infantry and cavalry officers. In order to make the Army more attractive as a career it has been decided that officers who pass a Staff College course at CajnbeHey 1 fri any special branch will receive higher pay. Particular attention is being paid to technical and scientific subjects, and training will be given at the Royal Miltary College of Science to those who qualify. Better Conditions To improve conditions fqr rankers many steps are being taken to raise the Army’s standard of living. FieldMarshal Lord Montgomery, who recently made several innovations, including the abolition of unnecessary parades, has declared that he looks forward to a time when the British soldier will be a tougher fighter than at any time in the history of the service. But at the same time he hopes to see him receive, when off duty, all the amenities that are available to skilled civilian workers. In common with the other services, the Army will have a women’s service. This will be in two sections. One will be a permanent service working in conjunction with the Army, and women will make their careers in it. The other will be part of % the Territorial Army. It is not yet decided what.name shall be given to the permanent women’s service, and there is reported to be a good deal of cogitation going on at the War Office to select a name in which the word “women” will not be used.