1938-03-11 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 11, 1938.

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COMPLETE REORGANISATION OF BRITISH ARMY SYSTEM Striking Survey Of Plans By Mr. Hore Belisha

MORE MEN SEEKING ADMISSION THAN NEEDED

London, To-day,

More men are trying to join the British army than

are required.

The Secretary for War, Mr. Leslie Hore Belisha, made this surprising statement in introducing the Army Estimates in the House of Commons yesterday, adding that they were applying at the rate of nearly 60,000 a year.

At the present time, he said, over 500,000 soldiers raised in Britain on the voluntary system can be mobilised in an emergency for action on various fields of our Imperial responsibility.

This excludes 150,000 soldiers New clothing would be adapted to maintained in the Dominions, the the soldier's increasingly mechan Indian Army which with re- ised function.

factors introduced by submarines Army, disclosing how, under stress and, above ail, aircraft. He showed of new methods of warfare, a fresh how the fact that the number of allocation of our forces is called for, British army units to be station-primarily affecting, on the one hand, ed in India Was

predeter their distribution, and on the other, mined, produced an element of their responsibilities at home, em- Frigidity in the strategical distribu-phasised how the factors in the

tion of units at home and abroad situation have altered since 1914. and also affected the organisation: The extent to which we might be of the rest of the army and the terms required or expected to send or have of service and amenities of the available assistance for an ally and soldier.

what form it should take must be This led up to the announcement related to these considerations. It that the Prime Minister was pre-must be remembered that support discussions with a view to an ob can offer." pared to initiate inter-departmental on land is not the only support we lective re-examination of the ques- REORGANISATION

tions involved, which have already been the subject of discussion be tween the India and War Offices.

ROLE OF ARMY After a discussion of the role of

There followed an account of the proposed reorganisation of divisions and of the artillery with the aim of

providing a thoroughly flexible or- ganisation and as regards artillery

the Army, firstly, in home defence, greater tactical flexibility and in-

in which ground defences against creased facility for control of fire air attack are now first in priority. There were, the Minister stated, and, secondly, in discharge of over-to be two types of division and seas commitments for the defence variations within the types The of British Territories and Bases, first type a motorised division bas- serves, is 170,000 strong, and The warrant officer of to-day was the Minister came to its third role fed on the light machinegun when many thousands in local forces in surely capable of commanding a as a strategic reserve and under used for internal security operations the Colonies and Protectorates. platoon, and therefore he proposed this head its use in co-operation in such as the present operations in We do not suffer from difficul to enlarge the complement of war-defence of the territories of allies. Palestine, might consist of six bat- ties in man power, continued Mr. rant officers by creation of a new Speaking of Lord Haldane's talions with the necessary ancillary -Hore-Belisha, but from its cor- class.

creation of an expeditionary force, troops for maintenance- and com- rect organisation and distribu- This would also effect a reduc-Mr. Hore Belisha observed that the munications, but when used for war tion.

tion in subalterns which, in turn, assumptions of the past often might consist of mine battalions sup PACE OF PROGRESS would enable officers to rise more tempted one to leave out of, ac ported by artillery and other arms, Discussing the considerations rapidly.

count later developments and according to need--British Wireless. which impinge on distribution ofį 12 YEAR ENLISTMENT. the army, Mr. Hore-Belisha point- The Government proposed to ex-

MAGINOT LINE ed out that the number of units/periment in direct enlistment for Emphasising the increase in the to be stationed in India is pre-i twelve years with the Colours, power of defence, which is the prin At the 116th Half-Yearly Meeting of determined, and, as an essential with certain prospects subject to cipal military development of re- Specie Bank, held at the head office at feature of our distribution is suitability of re-engaging for pen-cent years, and in illustration of Yokohama, yesterday, a net profit of that units at home interchange sion

which he referred to the "masterly Yen 16,948,425 was shown, including with units in India, the pace of Other financial benefits would in- and formidable defences of the Ma-Ten 10,708,919 carried over from last re-adaption of the rest of the clude four cumulative increments ginot Line constructed with all the following allocations:-To Reserve British army is influenced by ther of threepence per day at the end ingenuity and thoroughness of aFund Ten 1,500,000.00, Dividend 10% speed at which the Government of the first, second, eighth and thir-great military nation," he said that per annum (for the half-year ended of India, find themselves able toiteenth years, in addition to a spea mere description, such as had been 1000.00, To be carried forward to next the 31st December 1937) Yen 5,000,- proceed.-

cial threepence for proficiency pay-given, of the role of the British account Yen 10, 484,

AIR DEFENCE

There would be an increase in

Continuing, Mfr. Hore-Belisha the family allowance for married said the duty of defending this men over 26 to 17/-, and additional country against air attack was en- allowances for children.

trusted to the Territorials, with a

The new rates would take effect

total establishment manning 76 from April 30.-Reuter. batteries and 108 searchlight com- panies.

IMPORTANT CHANGES

London, To-day.

Twenty-eight British battalions. In his notable speech, the War were now stationed overseas, ex- Secretary surveyed the leading pro- cluding India and Burma.

blems of army organisation which Lord Haldane's strategic reserve, have been and still are engaging fixed at a division, required re-the attention of Government, and vision in the light of developments, announced important changes especially in the strengthening of well as a large number of improve defence methods.

ments affecting the service condi tions of all ranks.

es

TWO TYPES OF DIVISION There would be two types of The House listened attentively to division, first of which was motor- the Minister's disclosure of a var ised and based on the light iety of proposals ranging from machine-gun, and the seconda those affecting higher strategy to mechanised armoured division those relating to the smallest de- based on the tank

tails of the soldier's daily routine Battalions in the former division and including inter-departmental would each possess fifty Bren re-examination of the Cardwell machine guns.

system, thei

e mechanisation and re-

and

The object underiying the organisation of the artillery, the changes was to provide flexible-or-lenlargement of the numbers ganisation of the regular forces at responsibilities of warrant officers, home capable of producing a reconsideration of factors de greater number of divisions better mining the service conditions of of suited to meet commitments.

cers,

the modernisation of bar-

· FIRE POWER-

and improved living condi- Mr. Hore-Belisha asked why, un- tions for soldiers, and increased like in the Navy and Air Force, financial benefits in the way both should heads alone be counted of family allowances and incre in the Army, and fire power and ments of pay after periods of com- mobility be discounted. He pro- pleted service. posed measures to alter this:

NEW FACTORS

He mentioned the progressive Mr. Hore. Belisma recalled the elimination from soldiers' drill of historical army reorganisations as- all superinous postures and su-sociated with the names of Card- perfluous gadgets requiring polish well and Haldane and spoke of new

modifications.

The

the shareholders of the Yokohama

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