THE BRITISH ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 9

THE BRITISH ARMY

HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE

PROTEST AGAINST REDUCTION

LONDON, 14th November. In the House of Lords, the Earl of Middleton (C.) called attention, to the post-war reduction in tho Army, and asked if Steps were being taken to re. duce the civil establishment of the War Office and Admiralty. He pointed out that the Army was now below the 1895 level. The obligations of the Empire could not be discharged by a mere study of protocols at a-peace conference. Despite the reductions in tho Army and Navy, the War Ofßce and Admiralty staffs had. increased Viscount. Allenby B »id that it was better we should be prepared to meet disagreeable and unexpected happen, mgs than be forced to improvise 3 means of defence at the last moment, Events in Palestine emphasised the danger Q f optimism leading to tmdue reductions. In view o f our Mandates m Palestine and Irak, we must leave adequate forces there. Earl de la Warr (Lab.) replied that the previous Government wai responsible for the reduction in tho Army and changes in material and technical requirements. Comparison* between the present and pre-war costs were useless. For instance, the mechanisation of the 4 myj£°ne OS* two millions. The War Office expenditure had gradually declmed since 1923, The, Government was determined to investigate every possible means of saving Viscount Fitzalan (0.) and the Maropinion that Army reduction had gone as far as it could go with safety.