BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE

Southland Times, Issue 23947, 13 October 1939, Page 7

BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE

Military Contribution To Allied Cause

REVIEW BY MINISTER OF WAR (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, October 11. In the House of Commons the Minister of War (Mr Leslie Hore-Belisha) describing Britain’s military contribution to the Allied cause said: “Within five weeks of the outbreak of war we had transported 158,000 men to France. Hitherto the convoys across the Channel have averaged three each night. This was made possible by the will-ingly-observed reticence of the Fress but silence is now not needed and the first body of war correspondents has gone with the forces. “A small body of specially-selected officers with confidential clerks worked out the whole of the details for the transport of the Army and the Royal Air Force to France. There was not a single casualty. “Already there have been transported 25,000 vehicles, including tanks, some of which weighed 15 tons apiece. Special ships were required to carry them. , .. “The men were transported in small groups and landed at scattered ports in France," he continued. Infantrymen constituted 60 per cent, of the forces in 1914, relying on rifles, bayonets and two machine-guns to each battalion. Today only 20 per cent, were infantry with 50 Bren guns, 22 anti-tank rifles and other weapons to each battalion. This showed how much better equipped with fire power the forces were. “I would like the men’s parents and wives to know that they are in fine spirit,” said Mr Hore-Belisha. “The only shortcomings at present are the inadequacy of the cigarette supply and the slowness in the delivery of letters. The Coinmander-in-Chief and the corps commanders report their highest pride in the men who are at present busily fortifying their positions in the line. The forces in the middle east have also been strongly reinforced as well as garrisons elsewhere, both in material and men. MILLION MEN AVAILABLE “Britain has at present the best part of a million men who can be called on. In view of the prospect of a three years war it is essential that all reserves should not be used immediately. The Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service is already 20,000 strong and is being augmented.” Mr Hore-BelisKa emphasized that the contingents of the British Expeditionary Force at present in France were not the last that would arrive there. A base had been created and lines of communication had been organized to assure a regular flow of supplies and munitions and the reception of more contingents as and -when it might be decided to send them.

Mr Hore-Belisha cited the neutral testimony of American observers about the excellence of the equipment possessed by the force and added: “I have been asked whether we have enough reserves to keep the forces in the field. We shall send no divisions to France until we are satisfied that thev can be

kept in the field. We shall not make the error of putting them into battle when supplies are likely to ( run out.’ The Minister announced the formation of home defence battalions and an auxiliary military pioneer corps. The former would be composed, of officers and other ranks now serving in the national defence companies, of officers and other ranks found permanently or temporarily unfit for service overseas, officers and other ranks waiting for drafting and young soldiers not available by age for service in the theatre of operations. It would be possible for some older former officers and some older men to be absorbed into these battalions.

The Minister announced that General J. G. Dill, commanding the first corps, said that unity of command had been assured. The British Army was under French command but the British Com-mander-in-Chief had the right to appeal to the Cabinet which, in normal circumstances, was unlikely to be necessary because the understanding was complete and whole-hearted in every particular. It was even possible that French troops might be under the British Commander-in-Chief. Mr Hore-Belisha added: “While the world was reading of German advances in Poland, British soldiers, resolved to rectify this wrong, were passing silently and in unceasing sequence across the Channel. Sons are now treading the soil in France made sacred by their fathers. We may be assured that they will acquit themselves with the same tenacity, courage and endurance.” ,