ARMY CAREER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 4 May 1938, Page 7

ARMY CAREER

MAKING IT MORE ATTRACTIVE NEW LONG SERVICE ENLISTMENT SCHEME ANNOUNCED BY BRITISH WAR MINISTER (British Official Wireiessl (Received 4th May, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, 3rd May. A new long service enlistment scheme, with increases in pay, family allowances and pensions rights, was announced by the War Minister (Mr L. Hore-Belisha). It is desired to make the Army more attractive to men desirous of making it their career and will be limited to 5500 men per year. Men may enlist for twelve years and have the right, subject to good character and fitness, of continuing for a furth’er nine years. Men applying for new enlistment must be between 18 and 24 years of age. The number is limited to maintain the strength of the reserve. Speaking of the scheme Mr HoreBelisha said that recruiting for the i Army was at a rate which had not i been known for some tmie, though with | the increased demands for other nat- j ional defence services the task of find- i ing the 53.000 recruits wanted this year was not becoming easier. A total of 40,000 territorials was also required. In the case of the territorial army, it could be brought to strength at once but for its territorial basis. For example, some units could probably be filled four or five times over. A great many units were up to strength and even 20 per cent over establishment.