ARMY OBLIGATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19883, 9 March 1939, Page 6

ARMY OBLIGATION

BRITISH PLANS

UNITY WITH FRANCE

PREPARATION OF FORCES

SURVEY BY MINISTER

PRAISE BY DUFF COOPER

(Eliin. Tul. Copyright- Unil<‘<l Tress Assn.) (British Ofiicial Wireless.) Reed. 1. p.m. RUGBY, March 9 The Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Flore-Belisha, began his speech in introducing the army estimates in the House of Commons by reference to a question which he thought would be uppermost in the mind of the House, namely to what extent Britain should be prepared, in the event of war, to intervene with land forces on the Continent of Europe.

The question was a searching one and could only adequately be discussed within the context of the countries’ slategic problems, he said.

Mr. Hore-Belisha recalled the declaration by the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain on December 14, and which he reinforced on February 11 and which left in no doubt the position which, in certain eventualities, Britain would assume. On the latter occasion Mr. Chamberlain had said he felt “bound to make it plain that the solidarity of interests by which France and this country are united is such that any threat to the vital interests of France, from whatever quarter it came, must evoke the immediate co-operation of this country’’

That declaration was of greater significance than any which preceded it and made it: incumbent to consider and prepare for the use of a field force in certain eventualites. Plans of Great Detail “Conversations between ourselves and tlie French have not commited us in this respect, but prudent minds should be ready for any eventuality,” continued Mr. Flore-Belisha. "If we inare involved in war our contribution and the ways in which we can besi make it will not be half-hearted, nor upon any theory of limited liability.

“We have, on our side, made plans —plans of great detail. We have made a calculation of the shipping requirement.

“The principle which we lay down is this: In order that it may be possible for us to deliver our maximum effort in a Continental war should the need arise, the productive arrangements we should make in peace, together with the accumulated reserves and new capacity which could be created and brought into operation, must be sufficient to equal and maintain each echeion of the forces as it is deployed. Equipment and Maintenance

“By the time the last of the serial dates is reached new forces should be trained and necessary additional provision for their equipment and maintenance be made." Mr. llore-Belisha said that the historical qualification of the British military effort abroad .still remained —every soldier who fought had to be transported and every weapon he used, shell he fired and vehicle he drove had to be carried oversea. The whole of the army could not, therefore, arrive simultaneously in a theatre ol' war where Continental armies might already be in position. It would have to be dispatched in echelons on serial dates. Production of Tanks Mr. Flore-Belisha said that all the regular divisions except the armoured units would be equipped for action within the coming financial year. The production of light tanks was well ahead of the schedule. Cruiser tanks only were now being delivered. The Bren gun was being produced in overwhelming numbers. A proportion of the regular reserves would, for the first time, be summoned to the colours this year in order that they could be kept up to date.

The army effective all ranks, exclusive of troops in India and Burma, numbered 531,353.

Mr. A. Duff Cooper (Con, St George’s) said: “Mr. Hore-Bclisha’s statement regarding an expeditionary force,' and our willingness to send it to tne Continent is good enough for me. The statement is probably the most satisfactory concerning the army ever made in the House.”