BRITAIN’S STRENGTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 7

BRITAIN’S STRENGTH

WAR MINISTER’S SPEECH UNSHAKABLE RESOLVE [ British Official Wireless.J RUGBY, Oct. 20. Changes in the War Office organisation and the military appointments connected therewith, to which the King has given his approval, with a view to marking and providing for the position now ocupied by the Territorial Army as an indispensable branch of the lighting services, were disclosed by Mr Hore Belisha, speaking at a dinner to City lieutenants at the Mansion House. There was, he said, no other country which could offer the spectacle of resolute voluntary defence services on the scale of those of Britain. In the Territorial they had an army almost as large as the regular army, and there was no doubt that it must be expected in war to play its full part. Already it was charged with defending Britain on the coast and in the sky. That was a tremendous responsibility. He then anounced that the King had approved the nomination of General Sir Walter Kirke, DirectorGeneral of the Territorial Army, as a member of the Army Council. Ail questions affecting the Territorial Army would henceforth be concentrated and administrated at the War Office under the Director-General who would be given an adequate staff.

The King had also approved the creation of the new post to Deputy-Director-Gcncral of the Territorial Army and the promotion of the Territorial officer to the rank of majorgeneral, who would hold that office Further, another Territorial officer would be appointed as Assistant Adjutant-General in the War Office.

After commenting on the spirit of co-operation which existed between the Regular and Territorial Armies and which the changes announced would strengthen, the War Secretary said that he had dwelt not on armed strength which could be pressed and ordered into service, but on that deep, inexhaustible reserve which was not numbered in mon alone nor counted in cannon, but which was more impregnable than these—the quiet, persistent, and unshakable resolve of the British people, without premature or permanent dislocation of the balance of its national economy and life, to meet any crisis and to endure.