THE BRITISH ARMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20354, 10 March 1928, Page 11

THE BRITISH ARMY

MECHANISED FORMATIONS. RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS. WARFARE REVOLUTIONISED. (Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 8. In the House of Commons fir L. Worthington-Evans (Secretary of War), in Committee of Supply, in introducing the Army Estimates of £41,050,000, compared with £41,585,000 last year, said that the actual saving to the taxpayers was over £1,000,000, because the War Office was receiving £500,000 less than last year from the Exchequer for the Rhine army, while £200,000 in respect of the Middle East had fallen to the army instead of the Colonial Office vote. Tho time had come, he said, to state the results of the experiments in the mechanisation of the Army. The additional mobility and tho carrying power of mechanical vehicles, together with the striking force of tanks in use, created a revolution in the application of the principles of warfare, just as the motor car transformed the business and soc : al life of the nation. Last year’s manoeuvres with complete mechanised formations exceeded expectations. It was too early to say anything positive about the outcome. Possibly ultimately a few soldiers in actual warfare would march great distances. The battle might bo carried on in the air or by motor vehicles. The whole organisation of military divisions, with proportions of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, might eventually be replaced by smaller groups, men with various mechanical vehicles and tanks. Meanwhile they had to maintain the forces known to be valuable. Experiments with mechanisation were continuing. The existing formations were being gradually based on the increased mobility and fire power provided by motor vehicles. Many critics accused him of weakness and wastefulness because he did not disband immediately all cavalry. Though cavalry on the western front in war time was overshadowed by more important happenings, experience in Palestine showed that in certain countries (cavalry was still effective and necessary. Ee did not propose immediately to dispense with more mounted units, but two cavalry regiments would exchange horses for armoured cars. The heavy and medium artillery were being mechanised. The rest of the field artillery was still horse-drawn. It was intended to convert the latter as soon as funds were available. Tho Estimates did not provide for the force in China. Sir L. Worthington-Evaus said that the Mechanised Squadron at present consisted of six-wheeler lorries carrying eight machine-guns in peace time and sixteen in war time. The sig-vheelers also carry the first-line transport. He hoped in future to substitute light armoured vehicles for the six-w heeler lorries. He added that the Air Minister would explain the situation in Iraq. Mr J. J. Lawson (Labour) said that, compared with other nations, the Army Estimates were small, but they had so much they needed in years after the Great War that Labour would support the vote because it thought that tho Army ought to be efficient in its purpose. The gravest revelation was that only onethird of the men offering to recruit were found physically fit. Mr J. Wheatley said that if they could have demonstrated on the floor of the House a man being bayoneted there •would be less enthusiasm for armaments. Was it all through fear of Russia, which was the only country leading Britain to real disarmament? Mr A. Duff-Cooper, replying, said that Mr Wheatley’s utterance wa» irrelevant and out of place. Russia’s disarmament proposal was only intended to make the League of Nations look ridiculous. Everyone wanted peace and disarmament, but no peace advocate believed + hat complete disarmament was the ideal. The Government’s policy was to make the Army as small, efficient, and cheap as possible.—A. and N.Z, and Sydney Sun Cable.

CUTS IN THE ESTIMATES. ARMY AND NAVY AFFECTED. LONDON, March 8. Prospective cuts of £500,000 in the Army Estimates and £75,000 in the Navy, coupled with £12,000,000 in other civil services, give Mr Churchill a prospect of lopping aoout £13,000,000 from the Budget. Departmental commitments and savings in the sinking fund may swell the cut to £27,000,000.—A. and N- Cable. army vote agreed to. LONDON, March 9. (Received March 9, at 9 p.m.) In the House of Commons Sir L. Worth-ington-Evans (Secretary of War), closing the debate on the Army Estimates, emphasised the fact that before the war the strength of the army was 719,000. To-day it is 472,000. The vote was agreed to by 169 votes to 20.—A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cable.