BRITAIN'S ARMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22670, 6 March 1937, Page 15

BRITAIN'S ARMY

THE ESTIMATES INCREASE OF £7,239,000 A YEAR OP ACTIVITY INTERESTS OP THE EMPIRE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 4 The Army Estimates for 1937 were presented in the House of Commons 1 to-day. They total £63,120,000, representing an increase of £7,239,000 on those of 1936. It is explained, however, in the accompanying memorandum by the Secretary of State for War, Mr. A. Duff Cooper, that the Estimates would have been £82,174,000, constituting an increase of £26,293,000 over 1936, but for one reason. This was the proposal to meet Army expenditure on equipment, works and . services, including huge munition sup- ; plies to the extent of !£19,054,000, by : 'new issues from the Consolidated Fund under the Defence Loans Bill. It is further explained that, whereas in 1936 a sum of £551,800 was included in the Army Estimates for the construction of Government factories, the provision for expenditure in 1937 of £7,946,000 was included in the Royal Ordnance Factories Estimate and issues ! from the Consolidated Fund under the Defence Loans Bill. The increased expenditure for 1937 was due mainly to expansion and acceleration of the programme. Bringing the Army up-to-date had been marked by ceaseless activity last year in every sphere of military policy, including mechanisation and modernisation of the Army and improvement of coast air defences at home and abroad. The Minister adds: "Our joint aim is to produce military forces which will be adequate to supply increased garrisons at home and overseas, and for the maintenance of order in the Empire. "The Army establishment, excluding India, is 168,900, compared with 158,400 in 1936, and 186,400 in 1914." Mr. Duff Cooper adds that although recruiting improved in recent weeks, it 1 is still below the Government's hopes | and needs. Already six munition factories are being erected in distressed areas and others will be necessary. J Five home cavalry regiments are being mechanised, and two will be experi- " mentally mechanised in Egypt. ' The Estimates for the Royal Ordnance 3 factories total £16,164,000, an increase of £10,187,000. 3 \ RESULTS OF RESEARCH I INCREASED EFFICIENCY 1 INDUSTRIES CO-OPERATING British Wireless RUGBY, March 4 The Secretary of State for War, Mr. , A. Duff Cooper, after dealing in his - memorandum to the House of Commons r with recruiting problems and improve--2 ment in barrack accommodation, ini eluding the provision of quarters for - married soldiers brought up to the standard obtaining for civilian life, s adds that research in spheres of explosI ives, ballistics and radiology continues J to yield important results. The applica- . tion of these has led to increased effi- . ciency in various 'arms of the service, notably in the Royal Artillery, the Royal Engineers and the Royal Corps of Signals. Referring to the readiness with which industry has co-operated in developing national resources for the supply of munitions, the memorandum says that not only has it been necessary to expand the existing Government factories and create new ones, but to enlist the interest of many firms with no previous experience in the production of munitions and Army equipment. This has been done with a minimum of interference with ordinary commercial business.