1936-03-31 — Page 15

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1996.

FULL REPORT OF WHITE PAPER ON DEFENCE

BUILDING OF SHIPS

TO BE SPEEDED UP

SUBSTANTIAL

FLEET

INCREASE

ARM

AIR

THE long-awaited British White Paper on Defence, issued last month, begins its outline of the plan for extending the defence services in a reference to the

"overwhelming importance of the Navy."

This overwhelming importance lies in "preserving our sen com- munications and thus ensuring this county the supplies of sea- borne food and raw materials on which its existence depends."

The first part of the White Paper is taken up with an his- torical survey of the facts leading up to the plan.

Comparative strengths of the world's standing. armles are given. and it is shown that while Britain roduced her armaments, many coun: tries Increased the number, range and efficiency of their fighting services..

Emphasis is laid on Bitain's un- awerving support of the League of Nations in pursuit of peace.

"Taking risks for

peace," pointed out, haa not removed

dangers of war.

the

In the plan itself stress is laid on the importance of naval strength in the following way:

NEW CONSTRUCTION:

Air Forces Of The Big Powers This table shows the progress made with the R.A.F. expansion scheme begun in May last year:

May, 1935

To Date

1937

Home Defence Flect Air Arm Overacaa

580

762

1,500

171

189

500

204

204

-600

IN

Machines

1,016

1,216

2,000

and small craft generally, the present rate of construction will be continard, ONE SMALLER

AIRCRAFT CARRIER

"A

now aircraft carrier, of aj smaller type, will be laid down at an early rowing naval importance of

datë,

the Fleet Air Arm will necessitate a considerable expansion of its present strength.

The additional expansion programme addı 250 machines to the Home Defence Force and approximately 150 to oversens strength .400

BRITAIN'S TOTAL FIRST-LINE STRENGTH 2,400

First-line strength of foreign lowers at present is: France

RusaiĄ. ----*,000 Germany

Japan Italy

U.S.A.

1,700 .800 1,150

860

1,260

(Comparative strengths of the Armies and Navies

are given on Page Eighteen.)

"Compared with other navies, nach as those of Japán or the United States of America, the nunt ber of first line. Fleet Air Arm air- craft in considerably lower than it should be and it is intended to bring It up to substantially higher figures in the course of the next few yearA. "This increano. will of COUTSD necessitate & corresponding, increase in personnel. erease the personnel of the Navy to coast defence at home.

"Finally, it will be necessary to in- | vides the first line in anti-alreraft and | FIRST LINE man the new vessels and to make "It is recruited on the basis that] good existing deficiencies. The la- it will be ready to serve wherever it crease must be a gradual process in may be needed, and if the Regular order to ensure efflciency, and by Army shakl require support abroad | March 31, 1937, the number las ex-the Territorial Army will be called pected to rian by about:0,000 men. upon to give that support, serving not në drafts but in its own units" and ARMY'S THREE

formations.

FIRSTLINE AIR STRENTH

IN BRITAIN GOING

UP TO 1,750 PLANES

MAIN FUNCTIONS

Majesty's Government to do alt

now

RI.

co.

FIGURES MISLEADING

ready approved will be varied by

"Accordingly, the programme effecting certain changes in compost. bion and at the same time some addition will be made to the numbers of aircraft.

"Including four "It therefore holds an important

auxiliary place in our defence organisation, operation with the Territorial Army,

to be formed for squadrons and it is the intention of His the new programme will increase the that in pensible to encourage first-line strength of the Royal Air Ferco in this country, bringing up the recruiting and increase its efficiency.total to approximately 1,760 aircraft, "For the present, owing to the demands upon the capacity of indus- exclusive of the Fleet Air Arm. trial output which must necessarily

"First-line Agures taken by them- be made in the first instanon by the

Relven are, however, a misleading criterion Regular Army, it is not possible

of comparative simultaneously to recondition the

strengths, as has been explained on air many occasions, and In the Territorial Army, but a beginhing will

present case the augmentation of offensive "The presont pence-time serving be made at once in the task of im- ing the very foundation of our system strength of the regular military field proving its present inadequate equip-

and defensive power which will of Imperial Defence.

units in Great Britain

result from the revised plans in ja approxi-ment and training.

greatly in excess of the numerical increase just mentioned.

REPAIRING DEFICIENCIES

"The Army has three main func- tions to perform; it has to maintain garrisons oversens in various parts of the Empire, to provide the military share in Home Defence, including "No less important is the responst-anti-aircraft defence, coast, defence bility of the Navy, stressed also inaud internal security, and, lastly, in the same document (the White Paper time of emergency or war to provide of March last on Defencel for main-ja properly equipped force ready to taining free passage between the dif-proceed overseas wherever it may be forent parts of the Empire of troops wanted. and supplies of all kinds, thus nur-

"To render the Navy capable in allmately 116,000 man. circumstances of fulfilling then re- .quirements.

It will be necessary not only to proceed with new construction at more rapid rate than in receat years, but also to make good exist. ing deficiencies in ammunition and atores of all kinds.

"Until the end of 1930 the strengths of all the principal Naval Powers are regulated by treaty.

"What will remain of this limitation after the conclusion of the present Naval Conference is not yet certain,

but it would seem likely that agree ment will not extend beyond" ad- rance notification of annual pro- grammes, exchange of information and certain measures of qualitative imitation on the sizes of ships and their guns.

"The agreement concluded in June, 1030, with Germany as a stabilising factor, which allows clearly the valdo of quantitative

when agreementa obtained. these can

"The failure to arrive at a general agreement, however, does not noces aarily imply an intention on the part of other Powers to develop their naval strength in such a way as to upset the balance of security, and the present plans of his Majesty's Government do not take account of any developments

of this kind.

TWO NEW

CAPITAL SHIPS

pro-

INFANTRY: 4 NEW

BATTALIONS

DEFENDING VITAL TRADE CENTRES

"The problem of co-ordinated alr dofence is occupying the constant attention of the Committee of Im- perial Defence, with the co-operation of all the Departments concerned.

"Modern methods of defence and the correlation of offensive and de-

"The modernisation of coast de- "It must be remembered that this | fences at defended ports at home and force constitutes the only source from abroad will be proceeded with at an

to accelerated rato, and the reorganisa-fensive weapons are continually under which immediate reinforcements any part of the Empire can be drawn. tion of anti-aircraft defences in the review, and the scheme has been as "Compared with 1914, our Army South-East of England which has drawn up as to ensure the necessary has been reduced by no less than falready been authorised

2 battalions of Infantry, although our peace commitments are greater than ever before.

degree of flexibility and the full utilisation of the results obtained will be extended with a slew to from continuous "scientific research coverlag the important industrial and experiment. districts in the centre and north of the country.

"Owing to this reduction of Infantry we are unable to maintain the balance

"The Government also consider it of home and foreign service battalions, and the result is hardship to the units essential to take immediate steps to which are given additional foreign improve the, housing conditions of the service, and injury both to recruiting. Army, which are el present unsatis- and to the effeleney of our Army. |factory, and progress in this matter "His Majesty's Government propose will be made as rapidly as possible to raise four new battalions of in- during the next few years: fantry, which will to some extent. mitigate the present difficulties of the "AIR FORCE NEEDS policing, duties, which our. Imperial responsibilities place upon us.

MODERNISING-

FIELD ARTILLERY

"It is not intended, in connection

any further inercase in the number

with the present proposal, to mala of fighting units in the Regular Army beyond these four battaliona,

"But it is urgently necessary thai

MOST URGENT"

"The prime function of the Royal Air Force is to provide an effective deterrent to any attack upon the vital interests of this country whether situated at home or overseas.

12 SQUADRONS ON EMPIRE ROUTES

"The Royal Air Force also has responsibilities in the general scheme of Imperial defence. With our wide Imperial responsibilities, the ability to reinforce a threatened area in suffi- cient time and in suficient strength demands the location of air units at convenient places on the strategic air routes;

The Government propose an in- crease amounting to approximately twelve squadrons for this purpose. most urgent and important of our de- of the four now auxillary squadrons "In the present situation this is the "Mention has already been made fence requirements, and it has rightly which will form a nucleus for co- received the special attention of operation with the Territorial Army, Parlament.

The five regular squadrons at present the Army formations already exist Force approved by the House

"The programme of the Royal Air allotted for co-operation with the of Regular Army will be reorganised to Ing should be organised in the most Commons last year was designed to provide soven squadrons, each of effective form and equipped with; the most modern armament and bring up the strength of the Force at twelve aircraft. material, together with adequate home to a total of 123 squadrons. "Large numbers of young men will with approximately 1,500 hrst-line be needed as pilots in the Regular Air Force, the Auxiliary Squadrons and the Reserve. Many airmen will "That programme is proceeding be required for enlistment to meet the according to plan, but new develop-varied requiremonta of the Service: ments in design will render it pos- and anany boys will be needed for sible to make great additions to the apprenticeship in the skilled trades. striking power of the Force.

"The London Naval Treaty hibita the building of new capital ships so long as it remains in force, ie, till December 31, 1938, but the process of replacement cannot be de reserves of ammunition and stores. "Plane have been worked out for layed beyond that date, and it is in- tended to make a beginning early in this purpose and the necessary steps the calendar year 1937, when two new are being taken to put them into capital ships will be laid down. The operation. Particular attention is) modernisation of certain of our exist- being given to our Field Artillery ing battleships will be continued. equipments, which will be thoroughly

"In ernisers the aim is to increase modernised, the total number to 70, of which 68 would be under-age and 10 over- age. Five cruisers will be included In the 1936 programmes..

TERRITORIAL ARMY

TO BE RECONDITIONED

aircraft.

"The latest types of machine which | will shortly some into production: show such improvements in speed,: raugo and carrying capacity as great-

"The available sources of supply will all have to be brought into action, and the full co-operation of the public will be needed for suc "It is, of course, self-evident that will not

cess.

"A steady replacement programme "The Territorial Army, thoughly to increase the operational effect- the provision of air forces for destroyers and submarines is con- generally regarded as the second line iveness of the squadrons to bo equip-aval! in war unless they are given the templated, while in the case of sloops in our military forces, actually pro-ped with them.

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means not only to fight but to continue fighting. Skilled pilots require time to train, and aircraft production is a lengthy and complicated undertaking.

"The provision of adequate reserves. in both men and material is an essen- al and urgent need, for without thom the war effort of an Air Force could not be sustained.

AIR RAID

PRECAUTIONS

"Particular attention has therefore been given to the provision of these reserves in the shortest possible time, and it can now be said that adequate arrangements for this purpose are in train.

"In the meantime the passive side of air defence measures has not been neglected. The Air Haid Precautions Department of the Home Office, set up in May of last your, has been actively engaged in the axamination of the subject with local authorities and satisfactory progress has been made.

Plans which have been

prepared over a number of years are now approaching the stage when they can be put into operation, and estí- mates will be · submitted in due course for the expenditure which will be required during the current.

.year.

Before passing to another subfeet, It must once more be emphasland that the plans for the Improvement of our defensive forces in all thred Services must be regarded as flexible and sub- ject to variation in details from time: to time,

"The whole field of preparation will

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ments in design and invention, must be met by corresponding variations in our own plans.

to

"In presenting to Parliament a achemo of Improved defence so far. reaching in character and likely to involve so heavy a financial outlay," nays the third section, "his Majesty's Government desire particularly stress the fact that these proposals have resulted from a thorough study of the subject of defence as a whole.

"The examination of the problem was entrusted in the first instance to a Sub-Committee of the Committee of | Imperial Dofence.

"This Committee was composed of the Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence, the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, the Per- manent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Chiefs of Staff of the three Detence Ser. vices,

"Their conclusions were submitted to the Defence Policy and Require. | ments Committee, presided over by the Prime Minister, and on his invita- tion, and in view of the importance of the industrial side of the question, Lord Weir became a member of this Committee and

gavo hin activa assistance in formulating the recom mendations which, they made to the Cabinet.

"The Defence Polley and Require-, ments Committee has served in effect both as a General Purposes Commit- tee of the Committee of Imperial Defence and as д Committee Di Maison between the Committee of | Imperial Defence and the Cabinet. CABINET HAS

BEEN CAREFUL

"Not only the general conception of the defence plans now brought for- ward, but every detall included in the scheme, have been the subject of close examination and scrutiny by the Committee and subsequently by the Defence Polley and Requirements whole Cabinet.

"In the opinion of His Majesty's Government they represent a tho roughly considered and well-balanced whole so far na conditions can be fore- Been at this moment.

"In the future they will no doubt require adjustment from time to time as well as continuous supervision and pressure

to ensure their execution.

For this purpose the existing organi sation for defence has been reviewed afresh and the changes which have been approved by "If Majesty's Government were announced by the Prime Minister on Fob. 27.

This statement on the appointment of a "Doputy Defence Minister" was printed in full in the News Chronicle,]

"It will be

the seen," continues White Paper, "that the new arrange |ments contemplated are intended "to serve two purposes, namely, to pro vide an inproved and strengthened of apparatus for the consideration Dofence problems as a whole and to ensure the fullest and most effective use of the industrial capacity and the man power available for production

· of material - in the country. The second of these two objectives, re- quires some farther elaboration. CO-OPERATION WITH

EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS "The problem before us differs materially from that with which we were faced in the Great War. At that time the whole energies of the country were devated to winning the war and nothing else. Special powers were entrusted to the Government which enabled them to exercise com- plate control over Industry

and to direct it into any desired channel.

"To-day we are at peNCE and moreover we are living in a period of great commercial and industris)| activity.

"What we have to do is to carry through, in limited period of time, measures which will make exception- ally heavy domands upon certain branches of industry and upon certain classes of skilled labour, without Im- peding the course of normal trade. organisation and the willing co-opera- "This will require the most careful

tion both of the Ineders of Industry and of trade unions if our task in to be successfully accomplished. But the Government have every confid- ence that these conditions" will be fulfiled.

IMMENSE RESERVES

OR ORGANISED CAPACITY "Consideration, of the. position showed that there were really two different requirements to be mot, One has already been stated in the fore- going paragraph, and concerns the carrying out of a peace-time pro- grammo. The other concerns readiness for war iinelf.

"Modern war conditions involve a And vast expenditure of munitions equipment, and in the early months of the Great War there was a tragic loss of life in consequence of the lack of adequate reserves.

our

"If we are to avoid a repetition of that tragedy In any future war and to provide by our preparations an increased deterrent, we must prepare ourselves either by accu- mulating immense reserves or by so organising

vital

Ing industry that i Can rapidly change over at the points from commercial war pro- duction should the necessity ariát. "The Arst alternative, however, in only feasible within limits, and beyond that is ruled out not only on account of its cost, but, because weapons and methods of warfare are continually [chadiging, and those accumulatod re-

serves might theraforo well becoms, obsolete before they were requlrød,

"His Majesty's Government, there- fore, have turned to the second alter-

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