LARGER ARMY FOR EIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 13 April 1939, Page 8

LARGER ARMY FOR EIRE

At the time of the transfer of the I Treaty ports last year Mr de Valera i lold the Dail that Eire could not ex- i pect to have it both ways, and this j further burden of sovereignty would I cost money, writes the Dublin correspondent of the “Sunday Times.” This is I now fully realised by the Army esti- 1 mates which have been debated and : approved. This year the Army, which includes the Air Force, will cost nearly ' £2.000.000: for next year the estimate is a little over £3,250,000. The normal cost to the Army in future will be one-third more than the average for past years. The total personnel will be increased from 21.000 to 30.000. This, together with other commitments, will make early borrowing certain and additional taxation almost inevitable. The Minister for Defence explained m some detail the composition and aims of the Irish Army. It will comprise a fully trained and equipped ground force of all arms; an air force of land and sea planes for reconnaissance and coastal patrols and the interception of bombers :anti-aircraft guns for the protection of larger cities; coast defence garrisons; cycle squadrons for special areas; a coast watching patrol and mine-swee/ng service, and a munitions branch for the production of small arms and other ammunition.