BRITISH ARMY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1935, Page 6

BRITISH ARMY

BIG RECRUITING PROPOSAL

LONDON, December 5

The AVar Office is giving immediate attention to the problem of recruitment for the Territorial Army. The matter is having the personal attention of Lieut.-General Sir Charles Bonliam-Carter, Director-General of the Territorial Army, who, it is understood, will place his proposals before Lord Halifax, War Secretary.

It is anticipated that under th e auspices of the AVar Office a national recruiting and propaganda campaign will be inaugurated.

This course has become necessary because Territorial recruiting—especially in London and some of the large provincial industrial centres—h»s slumped. Latest figures show a shortage of 1,895 officers and 34,200 other ranks in an tiuthork'c'd establishment of 9,200 officers and 185.500 other ranks. ft. is hoped that £Tie decision to convert some of the line units into antiaircraft batteries and searchlight units will, by extending in som P cases the enlisting age Hint beyond 35 for Home service, give an impetus to recruiting. “Unfortunately, 1 ’ said the Commandant of an Artillery Brigade* “in residential centres the Territorial Army lias to contend with too many other attractions for young men—-greyhound racing, the speedway, cinemas, and ice hockey, and so oil. “We want to enlist the support of every employer of labour, and it is to be hoped that the Government will see its way to restore th e old scale of bounty.

“Tt has been reduced from £o to 30s, and its restoration to the old figure might be of considerable influence.” Tt is agreed by all Territorial authorities that London is the worst recruiting centre for the Territorial Army in, the whole country.

“Our two Divisions, the 56th and 47th combined, do not equal the full strength of one division,” said an offi-

There are at present 14 Territorial Divisions in the country. These are to he reduced to 12 before January 1, however. The two London divisions and the two Lancashire divisions wll be amalgamated, surplus units being converted into ground defence units.