IRISH FREE STATE

Evening Star, Issue 19765, 16 January 1928, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

REDUCING STANDING ARMY RECRUITMENT OF TERRITORIAL FORCE. (British Official News.) Press Association-By Wireless—Copyright RUGBY, January 15. (Received January 16, at noon.) Big changes in the Irish Free State army are to take place as foreshadowed by the President, Mr Cosgrave, some time ago. The Government has now decided on the recruitment of a territorial force with a view to cutting down the standing army to the lowest possible minimum. Four thousand men between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four are called on to join immediately tho new force, which is styled B class reserve. 'They will be required to serve from one to three months in the army and six years in the reserve. Although only 4,000 recruits arc asked for at once, it is expected that within a few months double or probably treble this number will join tho new force. It is noped gradually to reduce the standing army to a small standard body of men comjposed principally of instructors and first-class troops. In the first year of its existence during tho civil war the army of the Free State cost £10,000,000. This has been reduced gradually until this year, when the estimated expenditure was £2,000,0000. It is estimated that the scheme will' effect a further reduction to £1,500,000.