ARMY OF BRITAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19887, 15 March 1939, Page 6

ARMY OF BRITAIN

ROLE IN WARTIME

VIEWS IN COMMONS SECURITY OF THE NATION DEMANDS OX THE PEOPLE possi i; it: ext ensign (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Truss Assn.) (British Oflicini Wireless.) Reed. 1.15 p.m. RUGBY, March 14. The army estimates were considered in the House of Commons this evening. Mr. H. B. Lees-Smith, speaking for the Labour Opposition, expressed concern that in the staff conversations between Britain and France no commitments, formal or implied, should bo entered into which would prevent Britain, in the event of war, from exercising its judgment as to the best use of the country’s resources. He thought that the British and French views Of the role of the British Army in a future conflict might differ and that the French might under-estimate the important a art the British Navy might again •be called upon to play. He stated from the premise that defence in the western front at least might enjoy a superiority of as much as three to one and—given approximate equality in air strength—he concluded that the next war might be one of long duration in which economic resources and the power of blockade might be the final and decisive factors. As far as the British field force was concerned, he indicated his view that there might be other theatres, in which, in the event of war, its presence might be nore urgently required than in France. Such considerations brought him back to the question whether collective thinking on problems of strategy would ever be satisfactorily achieved until the service departments .vere fused in a Ministry of Defence. Praise from Churchill Mr. Winston Churchill (Con., Eppng), congratulated the War Minister, Mr. L. Hore-IBelisha, on his speech last week, when presenting the estimates. and his success in improving the recruiting figures. Mr. Churchill also congratulated the Government on its decisions firstly to provide the territorial army with the same weapons and equipment as the regular army and secondly, on the ■cheme to provide 19 divisions for general service overseas should occasion require it. He thought the last was a momentous decision and described it as the first instalment of the bill for Munich. He was afraid that there might yet be other instalments to be met. Mr. Churchill said that the time might well come when the Government would have to make even greater demands on the people in the interests of 'national security, but he was confident that they wouid submit to such iemands for the sake of their own security and for the triumph of the world causes in which they were ."iseparably involved. He was particularly concerned to know what steps were being taken to provide industrial arrangements which would ensure adequate supplies to a field force of 19 'divisions. Mr F. J. Bellenger (Lab., Bassetlaw) ■ aid that although recruiting had made great strides, it would be necessary to prepare the nation for a greater effort even than the provision of 19 divisions for service overseas, lie wanted lo know what the Government was proposing to do to create that sense of -national unity which alone could provide the man-power and production they would need tb oppose a totalitarian warfare. Germans on War Footing Mr. W. S. Sanders (Lab., North Battersea) urged that the fact to be borne in mind 'was that Germany already was on a war footing. Major J. J. Astor (Con.. Dover), like Mr. Lees Smith, drew attention to the apprehensions felt in certain countries in north-western Europe to whom, it might be necessary to give assistance in war. Mr. M. P. Price (Lab., Forest of Dean) emphasised the importance of equipment in modern warfare. He '-•aid that the size of the British armed forces mattered less than that -they should be equipped with the most modern and efficient types and on a sufficient scale. Mr. L. C. M, S. Amery (Con., Sparkbrook) praised Mr. HoreBelisha for his decision to build up the strategical reserve at home He doubted if 19 divisions were sufficient. Mr. Hore-Belisha, speaking in the debate, said he realised that the strength of the army lay not only at Aldershot, but in the factories. It would be necessary to. expand the productive capacity considerably. We needed a technical reserve whose peacetime vocation corresponded with that required in wartime He intended to announce an improvement in the system of promotion from the ranks.