BRITISH DEFENCE ECONOMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18025, 25 February 1922, Page 9

BRITISH DEFENCE ECONOMY

REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.

33,000 TO BE DISBANDED.

SAVING OF £16,500,000. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 0.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Feb. 23. Sir L. Wortlrington-Evans, Minister for War, in a speech at Cliorloy, announced the Government's intention to disband 24 battalions of infantry and 47 batteries of artillery, totalling 33,000 men. He said that ho could easily demonstrate that in view of the position in India, Egypt, Turkey, and on tho Rhine Britain's military liabilities were not below the pre-war scalo. On tho other hand a trade rovival was impossible without very drastio savings, and in the circumstances he thought that it was tho Government's duty to face uncertain naval and military risks temporarily father than to encounter financial and cconomio calamities.

He could not fully accept tho proposals of the Geddes Committee regarding tho reduction of garrisons in Egypt and elsewhere abroad nor overlook tho fact that Britain possessed no militia and that her reserves were greatly reduced. He hoped to propose a reduction of £16,500,000 in tbe Army Vote instead of £20,000,000 recommended by the Geddes Committee. He intended to propose the disbanding of 24 battalions of infantry, 47 batteries of artillery, and five cavalry regiments. The Army would thus be reduced by 33,000 instead of 44,000 recommended by the Geddes Committee. The total Army estimates would be under £60,000,000.

AUSTRALIAN ADYISERSHIP. ABOLITION OF THE POST. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Beod. 6.30 p-m.) LONDON. Fob. 23. The Commonwealth Government has notified the War Office that it is abolishing the military advißership at Australia House at the end of June, when Colonel P. N. Buckley retires.