BRITAIN’S NEW ARMY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13175, 6 February 1936, Page 3

BRITAIN’S NEW ARMY.

MECHANISATION TREND. IMMEDIATE CHANGES. United Press Assn.—By Electric T eiegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 3. The Times' military correspondent says that the modernisation of the British infantry, under the proposed changes, involves complete mechanisation of the first line of transport either with 15 cwt trucks or armoured carriers, and the replacement of officers’ chargers by light cars and motor-cycles. These vehicles will be provided for two divisions at Aldershot before the summer training. A third and uourth division will bo equipped next winter. it has also been decided that rifle battalions shall include 52 light machine-guns and four mechanised mortars. Machine-gun battalions will consist of two companies equipped with 32 heavy machine-guns, each of which will be carried on a low armouired or mobile pill-box, from which they can be fired, and also an anti-tank company armed with 12 anti-tank rifles and a mechanised scout company mounted on fast light-armoured vehicles, enabling an infantry brigade to provide its own rapid reconnaissance over a wide area. This is essential., as the unmechanised cavalry, of which there are five regiments, will be maintainat home to relieve the British cavalry in India—unfortunately the Indian authorities refuse to mechanise the British units—and although designed to act as divisional cavalry, will be unable to fulfil modern needs for reconnaissance to the disadvantage of the British in comparison with Continental mechanised scout groups.