BRITISH ARMY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18967, 19 March 1924, Page 5

BRITISH ARMY

’ NO REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL PACIFICIST MOTION DEFEATED BY COMMONERS AN OVERWHELMING VOTE The House of Commons demonstrated in an unmistakable manner its objection to Britain leading the way in regard to disarmament. A jßcificist motion to reduce the perOMnel of the army to skeleton dimensions was defeated by 347 to 13. '? (Sun Cable.) Received March IS, 11.5 p.m. LONDON, March 17. In the House of Commons a feature Of the discussion on the army estimates was an amendment moved by Mr Ayles, a Labourite pacificist, to reduce the personnel of 161,444 by 150,000. He contended that we should dethrone Mars and enthrone Christianity. He declared that if the nation were completely disarmed it would be safe for other nations to foliow our example Mr Thurtle, in seconding the motion, said he was not a conscientious objector, but he would be to tfre next war. Nobody should be subjected to the ordeal of modern warfare, which was useless and futile and should be abolished. Colonel Ward said: 44 You cannot moralise with an alligator. It would be national insanity for Britain to disarm first in a world armed to the teeth.”

Mr Montague, a Socialist, asserted that Labour was not pledged to unconditional disarmament, but wished to give a lead to simultaneous disarmament. While standing for the idealism of the Sermon on the Mount, they would still have their feet on the ground if their heads were in the clouds.

Hon. Seely contend?d that the army was already dangerously small. It should have more machine guns. Major Attlee denied that the army was falling behind in mechanical apparatus of war. Steps were being taken to entirely replace horses. It was not in the public interest to disclose the progress in tanks and other mechanical developments. They were endeavouring to discover a tractor suitable for both military' and commercial purposes.

Mr John Lawson said the Government considered mutual disarmament was the best method, and it was therefore summoning an international conference to discuss disarmament.

Mr W. M. R. Pringle declared that Britain had done more in giving a lead to disarmament than any state in the world.

The proposed reduction was negatived to 13 votes and the House carrier votes covering both personnel and pay.