BRITISH ARMY ESTIMATES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26986, 11 March 1953, Page 9

BRITISH ARMY ESTIMATES

Long Debate In Commons (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, March 10. The House of Commons ended an allnight sitting at 4.52 a.m. today. For all but 30 minutes of the 13 hours 22 minutes sitting, the longest in 1953, members talked about and listened Io speeches about what is wrong and right with Britain's Army after the Army Estimates had been submitted by the Secretary of State for War (Mr Anthony Head). In presenting- the Estimates for £526,000,000 and for 554,000 men. Mr Head said: “This is an extremely large sum of money and men at a time when the nation can least afford to bear it” He added: “We have every reason to think that we have the best-equipped, best-trained, and best-prepared army we have ever had in peace.” Eighty per cent, of Britain's fighting units were overseas. The Army was stretched and strained in meeting its overseas commitments. The Army was the equivalent of eleven and one-third divisions. It was in the opinion of the Government, the biggest army that could be created with the present manpower. “With our overseas commitments as they are at present, an army of the equivalent of eleven and one-third divisions is just too small for the job,” he said.

‘/By 1955 we shall be 15,000 men down on our present strength,” he said. In January, 1950, the Army had 373,500 men and the equivalent of seven and one-third divisions. Today the Army had 437,000 men and eleven and one-third divisions. The War Office was worried about the fewer re-engagements and extensions of service. Only 10 per cent, of the Army had more than six years’ service. One of the main reasons was the separation of families. Of the married men overseas. 66 per cent, were separated from their families. Married but separated soldiers would, in general, get a special rate from March 1. New Heavy Tanks New heavy-gun tanks would be in the hands of British troops for trials this yeaf, said Mr Head. "We must be getting near the end of the development of the tank when we get sizes of this kind,” he said. ‘‘These tanks will be supplementary to and not a substitute for the Centurion. It will probably be the most powerful tank in the world.” Mr Head said the Army badly wanted a new rifle. The problem of selecting a bore which would be acceptable to all had been referred to a British. Belgian, and Canadian technical committee. He believed they were well on the way to a solution, and there was a good chance they would be able to start production before the end of the year. The new rifle would retain both the advantages and performance of the .280. Orders had been given for body armour for the troops. These waistcoats did not give complete protection, but they gave a certain degree of protection which, he believed, justified the placing of orders. The effects of atom weapons were being. studied tactically and strategically. The guided weapon was making good progress and showed great promise. “We will have certain new weapons and techniques which will have an enormous effect on our Army and its hitting power,” he added. PROPOSAL FOR RESERVE (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. The “Daily Mail” says that a strategic reserve of 20,000 fully-trained and well-equipped men to be based in Britain ready to ‘be flown to any trouble spot affecting British interests was envisaged by the Secretary of State for War (Mr Anthony Head) when he introduced the Army Estimates in the House of Commons yesterday. The reserve would be the equivalent of an infantry division and would be created from British. troops serving in the Middle East, who are likely to be released when agreement on the Canal Zone isweached with Egypt. CLASH IN ROME STREETS Neo-Fascists Fight Communists (Rec. 8 p.m.) ROME, March 9. Twenty persons, including a Neofascist Deputy, Roberto Nioville, were injured when 3000 Neo-fascist students shouting “We want Trieste” came to blows with Communists in Rome today. The students paraded with Italian flags. They demonstrated against the Government, blaming it for the delay in the return of all of Trieste to Italy as agreed by Britain, France, and America in 1951. The police charged the demonstrators and detained 20 of them. The police investigating the grenade incident in Trieste yesterday, in which 24 Neo-fascists were injured, said today that their investigations showed the grenade was aimed by the demonstrators.