NEW ARMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23166, 12 October 1938, Page 15

NEW ARMY

SCHEME IN_.BRITAIN TERRITORIAL FORCE ANTI-AIRCRAFT UNITS THREE MORE DIVISIONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 11, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 11 "At last we have done the right thing, and one day perhaps we shall erect a statue to Herr Hitler because he has woken us up," writes £he Daily Mail's military expert, Major-General J. F. C. Fuller, author of many publications on military matters, in endorsing the announcement by the Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, of plans for the strengthening and reorganisation of the Territorial Army, equalising it with the Regulars.

Mr. Hore-Belisha, disclosing tha scheme at a Lieutenants' Club Dinner, detailed the provision of light tank, anti-tank and light anti-aircraft regiments, and special motor-cycle battalions. He referred to the recent partial mobilisation as historic, because the forces involved had not previously been called out prior to the general mobilisation. It had included the despatch of 50,000 Territorials to their war stations, and after a few hours, they were ready for action. Deficiencies in Equipment

The personnel had disclosed few defects, said Mr. Hore-Belisha, but much remained to be done in connection with equipment. Anti-aircraft units now totalled 46,000 men, double the establishment of 1937, and this should be redoubled by 1939, when there would be five anti-aircraft divisions instead of two.

The Territorial field army would be given the same content and placed on the same" footing as the Regular Army, and all shortcomings would be made good. The scheme was tactically and economically sound. Two yeomanry brigades would remain, and 10 horsed regiments would be held available as divisional cavalry reserves. "Defence Larder Empty"

"We can form nine divisions on the regular model, three mobile and one motorised division, with arms and services," said the Minister. "No existing units will be disbanded. The Territorials will be an up-to-date army capable of reinforcing the Regulars*" Major-General Fuller comments: "Our defence larder is empty. Last week we could not have sent 20,000 soldiers oversea within a month, and the Territorials could not haVe supported them within a year. Herr Hitler has just tqld us to mind our own business. This is do be strong, and we have at last made an important move in that direction."

The three Territorial divisions would ,be of a new pattern, highly mobile, to the extent of 100 miles a day, says Major-General Fuller.