BRITISH ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 3

BRITISH ARMY

CHANGE WITH TIMES (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 6th March. The Army Estimates show that tha amount required for the Army in the coming financial year will be £41,050,000, a reduction, of £515,000 on last year's estimates, As was the case last -year, there is no provision 'in the Estimates for the cost involved in the employment, of extra troops in China, for which a supplementary estimate will,, be .presented. .' . The number of men on the establishment of the Anriy, .exclusive of those serving in India, in the coming year will, be ■ 153,500, a reduction of 13,000. These figures include 1500 Indian troops employed by the Air Ministry in the Middle East, for which the War Office has no responsibility, but which for constitutional reasons are included in the Army vote. This represents a reduction of .500 on the number so included last year. The fall of 12,500 in the War Office sphere is due to the smaller' number of additional troops employed in China, the withdrawal of coast defence troops from Bermuda and Sierra L<?oue,' reductions in the British Army of the Rhine, the reorganisation of • cavalry regiments of the line in -Egypt, and economies resulting!from -the 'continued revision of establishments at Home and: abroad, A third brigade of field artillery is this year to be placed on a mechanical basis. Pifferent kinds of tractprswill be used in order to determine the most suitable tractor for this arm. All the medium artillery is to be mechanised, and five brigades at Home will be equipped on a higher'or lower basis. Experiments are also pro-, ceeding with artillery of. lesser calibres, bpth for close support and for anti-tank work. ' '. ..,"■" CHANCES AND IMPROVEMENTS. ' Experiments are in progress .tfith a new. gun for the Royal Horse: Artillery, and with a new field howitzer.- Other improvements of a minor character in relation to other kinds of armament are also in train. A change in battalion organisation has been introduced in the Foot Guards. It is similar to that for the infantry of the line. The . battalion nowcomprises a headquarter.wing, one machine, gun1 company, and three rifle companies. The headquarter wing is to have, four anti-tank weapons and two Lewis machineguns for anti-aircraft defence. Each rifle, company is already'equipped! ;with eight light automatics. ■ ; ' There are four tank battalions at Home and two armoured car companies. One o£ these companies will be abolished simultaneously with the conversion of a cavalry regiment into an armoured car regiment.. It has been decided to increase: the number of medium1 and light tanks, to supply armoured cars for certain cavalry units, and gradually to provide the fight-* ing and other mechanised vehicles required by all. tfhits. . •