REFORMS IN THE BRITISH ARMY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 106, 29 January 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

REFORMS IN THE BRITISH ARMY

A Tribute To The Territorials

The changes at the War Office were referred to by Mr. Hore-Belisba. Secretary for War, speaking at the presentation of prizes to the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment (T.A.) at Ash-ton-under-Lyne recently. “A line example has been set by two distinguished officers, who have given a lifetime of great service, in retiring to facilitate the promotion of younger men,” lie said. “They leave their posts from the highest and most unselfish motives, and the nation lias been ready to recognise flieir most graceful sacrifice. "I would like, as Secretary of State, t- speak publicly of the gratitude of the Government to Sir Cyril Deverell and Sir Harry Knox. “Sir Hugh Elies has vacated his present post—the term of which was at any rate near its close—to facilitate a reorganisation in his department. As leader of the tanks he has earned the highest reputation. “The new appointments which have been made can only be regarded as unconventional if rotation is taken as the standard. It cannot be in any live organisation. "The Government desires that merit, character and ability shall be the main entitlement to promotion and reward. “A seat in the 'War Office has perhaps been too frequently regarded as the goal of the soldier’s ambition. To sit on the Army Council is important, but no more important than a command in the field. “In the recent changes some of our best fighting soldiers have been deliberately kept in their commands. “They are the men who will he called on in war to lead the troops, and it is right that they should spend their days among them. “These commanders, however, will in future be associated with the formation of the policies of higher direction. Thus the opportunity will be given to those responsible both inside and outside the War Office, to take counsel and action together. “It is our aim to have a greater decentralisation—and so give to those who have to lead the troops the maximum of responsibility, and to those on the General Staff, who have to plan,

the maximum of freedom from deta i ted ad min istra t ion. "Those entrusted with organising a modern army must ever lie conscious of the factor of time. It takes long to bring ideas into achievement, long to design, test and produce the weapons of war, long to organise formations, long to train (hem. So much (o do, so little time. “Those, however, entrusted with these tasks have the knowledge and sustenance that they can depend on volunteers to supply the manpower which is the basis of all our work. “For the Regular Army there are more recruits than for many years past. “They can rely on this—that they are now joining an army which is being modernised and perfected, and which is not only an essential, but a highly intelligent, and scientific, profession. “They will be treated as well and encouraged as much as the resources at our disposal allow. “At the same time tiie Territorial Anny is also expanding, and no nation need despair while there are found among those who do its work and business an increasing number of volunteers to join its citizen army.” Mr. Hore-Belisba, in a tribute to the Territorial Army, said: “The great empires of the world iiave been won by citizen armies—a backbone of regular personnel, perhaps, but of citizen vertebrae. By such men have the great empires been won. and by .such men in the last resort have they been defended. . . . "How true that is of our Empire can be seen not only by reference to its history, lint by reference to its present situation . . . an Empire of over 493 millions of inhabitants and protected by a Regular Army of only 212.000 soldiers. “You will appreciate at once the importance of tiie Territorial Army as being the nucleus of Hie reinforcement on which we must rely. “Because of the spirit of our people we have been able to remain the only great Power in Europe which relies entirely upon the spontaneous and unforced assistance .of its citizens. It is a message of our spirit that in these times the Territorial Army grows stronger every day.”