Britain Announces Security Measures In National Services

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 September 1948, Page 5

Britain Announces Security Measures In National Services

Special Recruiting Campaign For Army, Navy And Air Force

(N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.) LONDON. Sept. 14 The Government has decided that national servicemen due for release in the next few months and who had not left therir units for release by today must be retained for three months beyond the normal dates. The strength of the forces by the end of the year would be 80,000 greater than it would have been if the planned programme had been continued. Mr. Herbert Morrison, announcing the service extension in the House of Commons, said that a special recruiting campaign for all three services was due to be started. “We must also accelerate the improvement of equipment, especially in the field of air defence, armour, and infantry weapons,” he said.

“This statement should not be received in any panicky spirit,” he added. “We regret that such a statement should have to be made.” Mr. Morrison said the Government had taken risks with demobilisation, but the state of the world made changed plans inevitable. The extension of the service was precautionary. He said that the Foreign Secretary would review the international situation next week. The House woulfl appreciate irom the Press that there was tension in many parts of the world. Despite all the efforts being made to solve many problems arising from the late war, the position gave cause for anxiety. In these circumstances the Prime Minister had asked him to make this statement in the HouseX Mr. Morrison recalled that since the middle of 1945 the Government had carried out a planned and orderly demobilisation of the forces. This demobilisation involved certain risks, and in any demobilisation process after a great war there was bound to be a certain lack of balance through the rapid outflow of skilled personnel and the slow build-up of trained cadres to replace them. In the situation then existing the Government felt justified in taking those risks, but unhappily the state of the world made some change of plan inevitable. ‘Tn the present circumstances the Government has no choice but to take certain precautionary measures,” he said. Mr. Morrison then announced the three months’ extension of service. He said that the release of Class B personnel and compassionate releases would not be affected. The increase of 80,000 would be In trained personnel. who were the real need. The Minister said the Government regretted having this step, but the White Paper polished when the demobilisation scheme was agreed on

made it plain that the scheme might have to be revised. RECRUITING CAMPAIGN. The Minister said that the retention of national servicemen was not the only step being taken to strengthen the defences. First there would be stimulation of recruiting for the regular forces, which was essential for immediate duties and for training the national service intake. It was also essential that trained auxiliary forces vital for defence should be brought up to strength as soon as possible. In the case of the Army the need was to have cadres of trained men ready to receive those called up under the national service Acts after they had completed their fulltime service. “The key position which air defence units and fighter squadrons hold in our defence, and the guarding of our sea routes and communications, make it nq less important that we should bring the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve up to strength,” he said. A special campaign was being started to achieve this recruitment, and the Government counted on the firm support of all who had standing and influence to help to secure success for this campaign. EFFECT ON ECONOMY. Considerable progress had already been made in planning civil defence. “The defence policy must depend on world conditions and must therefore be subject to review, but the measures I have announced are rendered necessary at the moment by the immediate demands on the resources of the Armed Forces,” he said. “These measures will affect our economy, but will not, we hope, jeopardise our recovery.” The Ministry of Labour and National Service states that in July the forces were reduced by 31,000, leaving a total of 816,000.