MODERNISED ARMY

Grey River Argus, 12 March 1938, Page 5

MODERNISED ARMY

IMPORTANT-CHANGES

Announced by War Minister

(British Official Wireless), RUGBY, March 10.

A notable speech in the House of Commons on the Army Estimates, by the War Secretary, Mr Hore Belisha, contained a survey of the leading problems of army organisations, which are engaging the attention of the Government, and the announcement of important changes, as well as a large number of improvements affecting service conditions to all ranks. Mr Hore Belisha said that from the troops raised at home under the voluntary system, there could be mobilised, in an emergency, ove.five hundred thousand soldiers for action in various fields of imperial responsibility. In reference to the increase of those seeking enlistment, he asked if it were realised that the applicants were trying to join the army at the rate of nearly sixty thousand annually—a total far in excess of the country’s requirements. Such difficulties as confronted the Government were not of man-power, but of its correct organisation. The House listened attentively to the Minister’s disclosures of a variety of proposals, ranging from those affecting higher strategy to those relating to the smallest details of a soldier’s routine, and including interdepartmental re-examination of the Cardwell system, reorganisation of divisions, based on the progress of motorisation and mechanisation, re, organisation of artillery, enlargement of the numbers and responsibilities of warrant officers, reconsideration of factors determining service, in addition to the short term as vice, in addition to the shore term as at present, designed to supplement the measures already taken to make the army a career for those who wish to adopt it, modernisation of barracks, improved living conditions for soldiers, and increased financial benefits in the war both of family allowances and increments of pay, after periods of completed service. After discussions of the role of the army, firstly, in home defence — ? n which the ground defences against air attack are now first in priority--and, secondly, in the discharge of overseas commitments for the defence of British territories and bas«s the Minister came to its third role, as a strategic reserve, and under this head, its use in co-operation in defence of territories of allies. He said: “A mere description of the role of the British Army, disclosing how under stress of new methods of warfare, fresh allocation of our forces is called, for affecting on one hand their distribution, and on the other, their responsibilities at home, emphasises how the factors in the situation have altered since 1914. The extent to which we might be required or expected to send or have available assistance for an ally, and what form it should take must be related to these considerations. It must be remembered that support on land is not the only support we can offer.”

There followed an account of the proposed reorganisation of divisions, and of artillery with the aim of providing a thoroughly flexible organisation, and as regards artillery, greater tactical flexibility and increased facility for control of fire. There were to be two types of division, and varieties within types. The first type—motorised division based on light machine-gun—when used for internal security operations, such ns the present operations in Palestine, might consist of six battalions, with the necessary auxiliary troops for maintenance and communications, but when used for war might consist of nine battalions supported by artillery and other arms according to need. These battalions would each possess fifty Bren guns, of which a proportion would be borne in armoured carriers, so they would in fact, be light machine-gun battalions. The second type would be a mechanised armoured division based on tanks.

Higher Pay

FOR ARMY PRIVATES.

(Received March 11, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 11.

The Minister of War (Mr L. Hore Belisha) has announced increases in pay for private soldiers amounting to £850,000 yearly and marriage allowances of £360,000 yearly. The privates’ pay will be increased by three pence at the end of the first year’s service; a further three pence at the end .of the second year, and further increases at later intervals. The Minister also announced that Sip. Isidor Salman, described as “the director of a famous catering organisation” had consented to become honorary catering adviser to the Army, and the present arrangements for cooking would be reviewed.

The New Army

MODERN MOTOR UNITS

(Received March 11, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, March 10

Mr Hore Belisha said that a proportion of heavy machine-gun battalions was to be kept as corps troops one per division —the rest being converted to light machine-gun battalions to form the nucleus of the motorised divisions. The anti-tank gun, formerly handled by the heavy machine-gun battalions, would, in future, be manned by divisional artillory. The Minister announced the re-or-ganisation of the field artillery of the., regular army on a basis ot a twelve gunfire union, instead of six —implying an organisation comprising the brigade headquarters and two. fire units, each of three tour gun batteries. The total number of guns normally supporting the division would not be affected, but with fewer personnel and more centralised control, the fire power would be better concentrated. The. principles underlying the proposed reorganisation were summed up by Mr Hore Belisha in a striking passage: “The. strength of the Navy is assessed in ships, and not in personnel, that of the Air Force in squadrons, and not in ground staff. Following this line of thought the

strength of the modern army is based not only on individual, but rather on fire units, which combine firepower and mobility. Why, alone in the Army should the heads be counted, and fire-power and mobility discounted?” he asked. The amount of fire producing weapons was best revealed, the Minister thought. In fact, the provision of over £43,000,000 for this purpose in the present estimates was greater than the whole army estimates, including pay pensions in 1934.

EFFICIENCY CHANGES,

Coming to what he called “the more human side” of the description of the changes proposed or contemplated, in the conditions of the army itself, the Minister announced the progressive elimination from the soldiers’ drill of all superfluous postures requiring rehearsal, and from his kit, all superfluous gadgets requiring polish. The most important change announced was the introduction of the rank of Warrant Officers (class 3), which would increase the prospects of other ranks and effect a reduction in the number of subaltern officers and aid the more rapid promotion for all officers.

DEFENCE OF DOMINIONS.

SYDNEY, March 11

The “Herald’s” Canberra correspondent says: The pronouncement of Mr Chamberlain that Britain’s defence policy will be based on the principle of “defend Britain first,” is not interpreted in Canberra as an indication that the Dominions will be thrown on their own resources in an emergency. The general impresston is that Mr Chamberlain’s references to oversea defence bases did not apply to the Dominions. Mr Lyons intends to ask Mr Chamberlain to elaborate his ideas.