ARMY EXPENDITURE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 79, 2 March 1929, Page 10

ARMY EXPENDITURE

3.15 P.M- EDITION-

BRITAIN’S REDUCTIONS. COMPARISON WITH OTHER NATIONS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received March 2, 9.5 a.m. RUGBY, Feb. 28. Speaking on the Army Estimates in tho House of Commons, Sir-. Laming Vorthington-EvanS, Secretary for War, compared the British expenditure with that of other countries. Sir Laming stated that the reduction in the vote in tho lifetime of this Government was 7 per cent. During the same period the United States had increased its comparable expenditure from £51,000,000 in 1925-26 to £59,000,000 in 1928-29, Italy had increased her expenditure from about £18,000,000 to £78,000,000, and Germany had increased hers from about £20,000,000 to £26,000,000 for the same years in each case. France had increased her expenditure from £34,000,000 in 1925 to about 58,000,000 in 1929. The Soviet Socialistic Government of Russia had more than doubled its expenditure, but its military budget included the navy and air force and he could not therefore make a close comparison. Belgium, Switzerland and Japan all showed some increase, and we were the only nation which had continually reduced expenditure on its amiy. Referring to mechanisation, the Minister stated that each cavalry regiment had now a mechanised, machine-gun squadron. In addition, the cavalry regiments were being converted into armoured car regiments and some 22 six-wheeled armoured cars of the latest pattern had been purchased as part of tne equipment of one regiment. In the infantry there was an increased number of machine-guns, os that each -battalion had one company of 16 guns, of which 12 were manned in peace. In three battalions those companies had mechanised transport, and he hoped to be able to equip three more this year. This year they were commencing mechanisation of light artillery. Two brigades of field artillery had been equipped with radio telephones and four more would be so equipped this year. In the Royal Tank Corps a modern type of tank had replaced the old wartime tank. ' Enormous strides had been made in the modernisation of the Army during the lifetime of the present Government.