FUTURE IN MIND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26717, 11 March 1948, Page 7

FUTURE IN MIND

STRENGTH OF ARMY BRITAIN’S PREPAREDNESS MAINTAINING REGULAR UNITS N.Z.P.A.—Copyright LONDON, Mar. 9. The British Army would be reduced to 527,000 men and women by April 1 and 339,000 by March, 1949, said the Minister of War, Mr Emanuel Shinwell, presenting the Army Estimates in the House of Commons to-day. Of the total strength, it was hoped 200,000 would be volunteers to the Regular Army. “ Since the end of the war 2,645,000 officers and men have been demobilised, but 1948 will see the end of demobilisation. “We must now look to the future. We cannot hope if war comes to gain a breathing space in which to build up and train our land forces. The shock will be sharp and sudden.” . Mr Shinwell said the Government, therefore, had decided to maintain the army’s strength by stimulating the flow of trained disciplined men from national service units to the Territorial Army. , , The National Army would thus he composed ol regulars, territorials, Slid a national service element. Mr Shinwell warned against the idea that the discovery of modern and more' deadly weapons had destroyed the army’s value. “Scientists may have produced weapons of mass destruction, but none so far obviates the need for land fighting,” he said. “ The idea that in a future war all that will be needed is to press a button is not supported by any evidence wc. have.” Mr Shinwell said that if another war came the country must rely on the territorials to provide the bulk of Britain’s anti-aircraft and coast defence, reinforcements for overseas garrisons, and probably an equipped field force for service anywhere. Neither the regulars nor the national servicemen would be sufficient by themselves to provide adequate forces to defend the United Kingdom. . , . Mr Shinwell added that Britain s inescapable overseas commitments were likely to continue for some time. It would be foolish not to take precautions to safeguard British interests both at home and abroad.