THE BRITISH ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18040, 15 March 1922, Page 6

THE BRITISH ARMY.

The British Array Estimates for 1922-23 apparently show a reduction of nearly £20,000,000 from the estimates for the previous year, but there is evidence in the figures given in the cable that they do not represent the whole cost to the British taxpayers of the anticipated military expenditure. A year ago estimates totalling £106,316,000 were presented by the War Office, but these were subsequently revised by transferring to the Middle East Department of the Colonial Office the item of £24,221,000, representing the cost of military services in Mesopotamia and Palestine. It may fairly be presumed that the estimate of £62,300,000 is subject to a similar addition in respect of commitments in the Middle East. An indication has already been given by the Secretary for War that the reduction in the establishment to 215,000 of all ranks is to be effected by the disbandment of further units—five regiments of cavalry, 24 battalions of infantry, and 47 batteries of artillery. Even after effect has been given to these drastic measures of retrenchment, the strength of the British Army will exceed by some 30,000 the pre-war establishment, but against that difference must be set the very great increase in military responsibilities, which cannot be avoided however.great the need for economy. As a matter of fact, the year's estimates show that the cost to the British taxpayer of Imperial defence has been ruthlessly cut down. The estimates for 1913-14 provided £28,220,000 for the Army and £48,309,300 for the Navy, a total of £74,529,300. This year the Admiralty has asked for £61,000,000 and the War Office for £62,300,000, a total of £123,300,000. When allowance is made for the fact that the value of money in Britain is at the most half the pre-war standard, and that the estimates for the Army at least cover a much larger field—the change in the proportions of the naval and military vote is striking— it would seem that the Imperial Government has taken the risk of repeating the mistake that has been made after every great war of cutting down its defence forces below the limits of safety,