EMPIRE DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 146, 17 March 1934, Page 7

EMPIRE DEFENCE

Debate Being Arranged in House of Commons ANXIETY IN EVIDENCE By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received March 16, 7 p.m.). London, March 16. It is understood that a debate is being arranged in the House of Commons on March 21 to discuss Empire defence, at which the Government will be pressed to take immediate steps to consult the Dominions, as a result of which it is lively to call a conference in 1934. Many members are anxious regardlug the situation, especially the amount for the Air Force on the Army Estimates. Mr. A. Duff-Cooper announced a decision to form a new branch of the territorial army, to be called the Royal Defence, recruited of men no longer fit for active service who would be used in an emergency for the defence of vulnerable points of Britain such as bridges, factories and arsenals, “not against enemy attack, but against persons with ill-will or foreign agents inside the country.” This would free younger and more active men for other duties. Labourites fear that the corps may be used as a Fascist force on the model 'of the Austrian Heimwehr. BRITISH SERVICES Single Organisation Urged (Received March 16, 7.30 p.m.) London, March 16. In the House of Commons discussion on the Army Estimates WingCommander James (Cons.) moved that army training should be in co-operation with the Navy and Alt Force. , Lieut.-Colonel J. T. C. MooreBrabazon advocated a single service of all three forms of defence—sea, land and air. ■