New Facts Compel Longer Service In Britain

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1948, Page 5

New Facts Compel Longer Service In Britain

LONDON, Wed. (11 a.m.). —The danger of new commitments had been illustrated by what had happened in Malaya and by’the increasing menace in the Far East, said the Defence Minister (Mr Alexander), moving in the House of Commons the second reading of the National Service Amendment Bill. This increases the period of national service from 12 to IS months.

With the extension of service we will be able to relieve the situation by haying more national service men in overseas commands, and to use more intelligent and skilled men as junior instructors in training." the Minister said. Among the new facts which compelled the Government to extend service were: Continuous delays and disappointments in settling the European peace treaties; The United Nations' failure to make substantial progress with those basic questions “which enable us to rely on collective security of the kind we all hope for.” Mr Alexander admitted that there had been “considerably more misuse of manpower” than there ought to have been. The Government, he added, was taking steps to correct this. “DIFFICULT COURSE" The Government had to steer a very difficult course between economic risk and military risk. Mr Churchill said 'the Opposition supported the measure for increasing the service period, “but the whole story constitutes not only an error of judgment but a lapse from public duty under party pressure. “There has been no foresight,” he said.

Mr Churchill announced that the Opposition would support the bill. He accused the Government of “mishandling and squandering” in the administration of the defence forces.. The former Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, Mr Ellis Smith (Lab.) moved an amendment signed by 23 Labourites rejecting the bill. The Secretary for War (Mr Shinwell), replying to Mr Churchill, said: “Nobodi has more experience of lack of preparedness before 1939 than Mr Churchill.” He added: “If the 176,000 men we have overseas were brought to the United Kingdom and reorganised in proper formations, we should have a very strong striking force. “In all services we have 200,000 men overseas, representing a very strong fighting force.” Mr Ellis Smith’s amendment to reject the bill was defeated by -338 votes to 51.

"The time to lay the plans for the post-war Army was during 1946. "By irresponsibility and constant changes the Government has prevented the service chiefs carrying out reasoned plans for the re-establishment of our defences on an orgarftsed system.”