British Army on New Footing

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 5

British Army on New Footing

Many Important Changes Announced

LESS MAN-POWER AND MORE FIRE-POWER

''British Official Wireless) RUGBY, March To.

A notable speech In the House of Commons on the Army Estimates by the Secretary of State for War, Mr

L. Hore-Belisha, contained a survey of the leading problems of army

organisation which are engaging the attention of the Government, together with an announcement of important changes and of a large number of improvements affecting service conditions of all ranks.

Mr Hore-Belisha said that from troops raised at Home under the voluntary system there could be mobilised in an emergency over 500,000 soldiers for action in the various fields of Imperial responsiDility

The House listened attentively to tb Minister’s disclosures of a variety o proposals, ranging from those affectin; higher strategy to those relating to th* 'smallest details of the soldier's routin' nnd including inter-departmental re [examination of the Cardwell system reorganisation of divisions based on thi progress of motorisation and mechanisa tion; reorganisation of artillery; enlargement of the numbers and responsibilitie: of warrant officers; reconsideration o: the factors determining the service conditions of officers; reintroduction oi enlistment for long-term service ir. addition to short-term service as al present, designed to supplement the measures already taken to make the army a career for those who wish to adopt it; modernisation of barracks and improved living conditions for soldiers., increased financial benefits in the way both of family allowances and of increments of pay after periods cf completed service.

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 the artillery, greater tactical flexibility and increased facility for the control of fire.

There were to be two types oi division and varieties within the types. The first type—the motorised division, based on the light machine-gun—when used for internal security operations might consist of six battalions, with the necessary ancillary 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 50 Brenn guns, of which a proportion would be borne in armoured carriers so that they would, in fact, be light machine-gun battalions. The second type would be a mechanised armoured division based on the tank.

The proportion of tlie heavy machinegun battalions would be kept as a corps of troops—one per division—the rest being converted to light machine-gun battalions to form the nucleus of motorised divisions. The anti-tank gun formerly handled by the heavy machinegun battalions in future would be manned by divisional artillery. The Minister announced the reorganisation of the field artillery of the regular army on the basis of 12-gun fire units instead of six—implying an organisation comprising brigade headquarters and two-fire units each of three four-gun batteries. The total number of guns normally supporting the division would not be affected but with the fewer personnel and more centralised control, 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, and that of the Air Force in squadrons and not in ground staff,” he said. “Following this line of thought, the strength of a modern army is based not only on the individual but rather on the fire units which combine firepower and mobility. Why alone in the Army should heads be counted and firepower and mobility discounted? Every man in a unit above the number needed to man and serve the weapons was an additional target and a strain on the service which had to feed and maintain him including naval and air forces which had to protect his passage.”

The Minister called attention to the suitability and advantages of a mechanised standard to a great industrial country like Britain, since employment in the Army was closely related with the men’s normal avocations and interests and since rapid and effective expansion was accordingly made easier. The speed with which the Army was being mechanised and supplied with modern fire-producing weapons, was best revealed, the Minister thought, in the fact that tho provision of over £43,000,000 for this purpose in the present Estimates was greater than the whole Army Estimates including pay and pensions, in 1934. Away with Spit and Polish. Coming to what ho called the mor»> human side, a description of the changes proposed or contemplated in conditions of tho Army itself, the Minister announced progressive elimination from the soldiers’ drill of all superfluous postures requiring rehearscal and from his kit of 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, effect a reduction in the number of subaltern officers, and aid more rapid promotion for all officers. The Minister touched briefly on the success of the experimental physical development depot established to bring applicants for enlistment who were below, the high standards of the Army Medical Boards to a better state of health by diet and exercise and mentioned that 92 per cent, of those attend-

ing the depot subsequently passed into the Army as fully fit. Increases in Pay. Mr. Hore-Belisha announced increases in pay for private soldiers amounting to £850,000 yearly and marriage allowances of £360,000 yearly. Privates’ pay will be increased by 3d at the end of the first year’s service and a further 3d at the end of the second year, with additional increases at later intervals.

He also announced that Sir IsidoreSalmon, chairman and managing director of J. Lyons and Co., whom he described as “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.