BRITAIN’S ARMY

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 November 1929, Page 5

BRITAIN’S ARMY

POST-WAR REDUCTIONS.

NECESSITY FOR ADEQUATE FORCE,

HOUSE OF LORDS’ DISCUSSION

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.; LONDON, Nov. 14.

In the House' of Lords, Lord Middleton called attention to the post-war reductions in the army, and asked if steps were .being taken to reduce the civil establishments of the War Office and the AdimiraJity. Hei pointed out that the army was now bellow the 1895 level. The obligations of the Empire could not 'be .discharged by the mere protocols a.t peace conferences. Despite the reductions in the army and navy, the War Office and Admiralty staffs had increased.

Lord A'itenby said it was better that they should be prepared to meet disagreeable and unexpected happenings than be forced' to improvise means of defence at the last moment. The recent events in Palestine emphasised the danger of optimism leading to undue reductions in defence. In view of Britain’s mandates in Palestine and Iraq they must leave adequate forces there. Lord 1 de la Warr replied that the previous Government was responsible l>r the reduction, in the army and the changes in material and technical requirements. Oomparisons between present and pro-wait- costs were useless. For instance, the mechanisation of the army alone cost £2,000,000. War Office expenditure had gradually declined' since 1923. The Government was determined to investigate every possible means of saving. _ , Lord Fitzalan and Ix>rd Salisbury expressed 1 the opinion that; army reduction had gone as far'as it could go with safety.