BRITAIN'S ARMY NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 12

BRITAIN'S ARMY NEEDS

A London message describes the opening of the trooping season for the British Army early next month. This is a kind of general post, by which units on foreign service are relieved or transferred, and new draft's are sent to fill the vacant places. The message, which covers only the beginning of the process, tells of drafts being sent to India and Hongkong, a brigade of horse artillery to Egypt, and a battalion of infantry to Palestine, while another infantry battalion is being sent from Palestine to Egypt. These facts show how many the points are where at least some part of the regular army is stationed as a matter of routine. For instance, the total establishment for 1937-38, including the British troops in India and Burma, was 216,066 of all ranks. Only 120,936 of this number were stationed in Britain. Remembering this, it is easier to understand the anxiety slackness of recruiting has aroused. Empire responsibilities demand that watch and ward shall be kept in many different places. The Secretary of State for War told the House of Commons some significant things in addition, one day last March. In the past 12 years, he said, there were only two in which no special demands were made on the British Army. More than once there had been danger of the British forces being brought into conflict with those of one of the great Powers. He mentioned these facts to emphasise the need of retaining in England a force sufficiently strong and wellequipped to be despatched at a moment's notice to meet any adversary in any part of the world. So, as the watch must be kept without ceasing, at home and abroad, the ranks must also be kept full. The dangers of weakness are too great.