BRITAIN’S DEFENCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 282, 12 November 1936, Page 9

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE

Territorial Army Ready T o Go Anywhere

AIR EXPANSION British Official Wireless Service RUGBY, Nov. 11. Dealing with Britain’s land forces in the course of a House of Commons speech, Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, said that if Britain was ever involved in war she would never give up until she was safe again. They were looking to-day primarily not to protect- the frontier at home but to defend and guard Imperial commitments .and vital lines in our points of communication in co-operation with the navy..

There was a small force at home .which. must be ready, to.- go.anywhere; It went recently to the eastern Mediterranean for a very * successful mission. 1 Thj,t force. was absolutely the oripimum.. ... '

The territorial army was- really the second line of our land forces, though, in relation to air defence, it. was, in truth, our first line. , . Dealing with the shadow scheme for aircraft-engine production, Sir Thomas said that Lord Nuffield’s resources and experience were not going to be lost to the Government and he hoped in a short time that the scope of his services would be enlarged.

Sir Thomas pointed out that expansion of the’Air Force was proceeding. Squadrons were continually being formed and built up to full establishment. The total number at home in the present circumstances of those squadrons is. 80, including 16 auxiliary squadrons. That figure excludes the Fleet air arm and squadrons abroad. The programme included large provisions for reserves, which would make it possible at a later stage and, if desired, at mobilisation, to increase the striking force or weight of any initial blow.

In rejecting a proposal for an executive Ministry of Supply with compulsory powers, Sir Thomas said he believed that the House would bo wise to take the long view and satisfy as far as possible the needs of the country without stopping export trade, on which the financial position of the country depended. “We are still an island,” he added, “and when all has been said and done we have a long start over anyone ill- ■ advised enough to meddle with our freedom. If we cared to. use our great, resources I cannot see -any reason' why. ; that freedom should ever -be in; jeopardy.” . ’V"'