CO129-581-16 British propaganda in Hong Kong 18-4-1939 - 29-10-1939 — Page 24

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The New Armies

The introduction of conscription in peacetime has re-

volutionised many old ideas in Great Britian. Except during

the strain of the Great War nearly a quarter of a century ago,

the nation had regarded compulsory military service as utterly

alien to British sentiment. Then it was only accepted as an

extraordinary innovation due to unprecedented circumstances.

Now the British people have accepted it as an evil made

necessary because of the lunatic state of international affairs.

Having accepted it, they have got on with the job in their usual

philosophic manner, determined to do it thoroughly and well.

The result is that in many of the new militia camps work which

would normally take about a year to complete is being done in

less than half that time. Camps are being erected with amazing

speed, and young soldiers are being trained with extraordinary

rapidity.

The methods now adopted are likely to shock soldiers of

an older generation, who were used to spartan fare and the

plainest possible accommodation. For the new British militiamen

there are beds with spring mattresses, furniture which is not

only durable but comfortable, individual wardrobes, and even

central heating and shower baths.

The most up-to-date cooking appliances have been in-

stalled, mechanisation has been introduced in the cookhouse as

well as in the field, and operations which used to occupy many

men for long hours now performed mechanically in a very short time.

The result is that, instead of" spoiling" the men, the new

methods allow time for the more intensive and extensive training

now neccssary for modern warfare. What appears to be needless

luxury is making it possible to achieve the most desirable results;

it helps to produce soldiers with the high-st degree of efficiency

in the shortest possible time.