BRITAIN’S FORCES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 386, 18 March 1937, Page 5

BRITAIN’S FORCES

RE-EQUIPMENT TASK. RECRUITING PROBLEM. Effort to Maki Army Career Profitable. Press Association—Copyright. Rugby, March IS. Introducing the Army Estimates in the House of Commons Mr. A. Dutt Cooper, Secretary of Stat? for War. said that they were highly satisfied with the latest design of light tr.'.i , which they believed ad no superior, >t it had an equal. These were now being turned out in. large numbers. By the end of the yeai it was hope-1 to have compjelje mechanisation of the artillery. An additional member of the Army Council and a director-general of munitions production had been appointed during the past year, and an engineer, Vice-Admiral Sir Harold Brown, had been sb eted for the post. They were making considerable progress in the great task of re-equlp-ping the who!-- army. The territorial army to-day Was stronger by 861 officers' and 15,295 other ran ns than it was fi. year ago. Great numbers ot young men of the right type were coming forward to- join the anti-air-craft divisions. It- had be n deeded that the prnvision of ’he territorial army with modern Gaining should proceed simultanously, as far as circumstances. 1 permitted,', with the equipment of the regular army, thvs modifying last year’s decision that providing the "territorial arm.' with modern equipmi nt must be postponed until the demands' of the regular army had been satisi led. The Government had decided that tn regard to the cadet movement simitar financial assistance would be extended as it enjoyed before recognition Was withdrawn. Dealing with recruitaent for the regular army the Minister laid they ■had to make an army career more profitable ami more pleasant. A great development of vocational training facilities was now envlsiged to- train soldiers for civilian employment on this leaving the army and i tr.t men would go as_ civiJJu •' | Ministry of Labour framing centres rated'* number of reform iu die ordinary curriculum of army libv. Meh he hoped would ncrcase the popularity of the s vice.