BRITAIN’S BIGGER ARMY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20679, 18 March 1937, Page 7

BRITAIN’S BIGGER ARMY

WAR MINISTER’S WARNING LESSONS FROM TRAGIC PAST HIGHLY EFFICIENT FORCE NEEDED British Official Wtrelese RUGBY, March 16. Introducing the Army Estimates in the House of Commons, Mr A. Duff Cooper (Secretary of State for War), said the experience of the last twelve years period was generally regarded as one of peace, but during which hardly a single year passed without some special and unexpected situation arising to interfere with normal activities of the army and thus should convince the House that an expeditionary force equipped to the highest point of efficiency must at all times be maintained. Mechanisation of Units Dealing with the contemplated developments, Mr Duff Cooper said it had been decided that a mobile brigade, containing only one tank regiment would be lackinlg in punch and protective power, and in future the mobile brigade would consist of a fully mechanised infantry battalion, with two light tank regiments. They were highly satisfied with the latest design of the light tank, which they believe had no superior, if it had an equal. These were now being turned out in large numbers. By the end of the year it was hoped to complete the mechanisation of artillery. An additional member of the Army Council and the director-general of munitions production had been appointed during the past year, and engineer ViceAdmiral Sir Harold Brown had been selected for the post. They were making considerable progress in the great task of re-equipping the whole army. The territorial army to-day was stronger by 861 officers and 15,295 other ranks than it was a year ago. Great numbers of young men of the right type were coming forward to join the anti-aircraft divisions. Improved Territorial Army “It had been decided,” said the Minister, “that the provision of the territorial army with modern equipment, sufficient for the purposes of training, should proceed simultaneously as far as circumstances permitted, with the equipment of the regular army thus modifying last year’s decision that providing the territorial army with modern equipment must be postponed until the demands of the regular army had been satisfied. The Government had decided that in regard to the cadet movement, similar financial assistance would be evtended as it was enjoyed before recognition was withdraw." Army as a Career Dealing with recruitment for the regular army, the Minister said that they had to make the army career more profitable and more pleasant. A great development in vocational training facilities was now envisaged to train soldiers for civilian employment on leaving the army, and the men would go as civilians to the Ministry of Labour training centres after they left the colours. He indicated a number of reforms in the ordinary curriculum of army life which he hoped would increased the popularity of the service.