THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1936.
Vivella
FULL REPORT OF WHITE PAPER ON DEFENCE M
·BUILDING OF SHIPS TO BE SPEEDED UP
SUBSTANTIAL
INCREASE
FLEET AIR ARM
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 seu com- munications and thus ensuring this country the supplies of sea- borne food and raw materials on which its exisionce depends."
The first part of the White Paper in taken up with an his- torical survey of the facts leading up to the plan.
of
Comparative strengths world's standing armies are given, the and it is shown that while Britain reduced her armaments, many
estin-
tries increanol the number, range and efficiency of their fighting services.
Emphasis in inld on Britain's un wwerving support of the League of Nations In pursuit of peace,
"Taking risks for peuer," it pointed out, has not removed the dangers of war.
In the plan itself strem in lak
is
on
the Importance of naval stronglh in the following way;
NEW CONSTRUCTION:
REPAIRING DEFICIENCIES
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
580
762
1,500
Fleet Air Arm Oversens
171
180.
600
264
264
-600
IN
Machines
1.015
1,215
2,000
and small craft Reverally, the present rate of construction will be continued. ONE SMALLER
AIRCRAFT CARRIER
об д
smaller type, will be laid down at an
"A new aircraft carrier,
early date.
"The growing nava! importance of the Fleet Air Arm will necessitate a considerable expansion of its present strength.
the
The sudditional expansion programme adds 250 machines to the Home Defence. Force and approximately 150 to overseas strength 400 BRITAIN'S TOTAL FIRST-LINE STRENGTH 2700
First-line strengtli of foreign Powers at present is; France Germany Ilaly
1,700 800 1,150
Russia
Japan
U.S.A.
3,000
850
1,250
(Comparative strengths of the Armies and Navies are given on Page Eighteen.)
"Compared with other wavies, Much A thons of Japan or United States of America, the nua- ber of first line Fleet Air Arm alr-i craft is 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 years. "This increase will of course in personnel. necessitate a corresponding increase
"Finally, it will bu necessary to in-viden the first fine la anti-aircraft and FIRST LINE crease the personnel of the Navy to const defence at home. man the new vessels and Lo make 1 "It is recruited on the basis that FIGURES MISLEADING good existing deficieneles. The in- creane must be a gradual process in arder to ensure efficiency, and by March 31, 1937, the number is ex- perted to rise by about 4,000 men, ARMY'S THREE
FIRSTLINE AIR STRENTH
IN BRITAIN GOING
UP TO 1,750 PLANES
MAIN FUNCTIONS
"The Army has three main func- tions to perform; it has to maintain garrisons overseas in various parts of the Empire, to provide the milliary share in Home Dafence, including
-
it will be ready to serve wherever it
"Accordingly, the programme may be needed, and if the Regulagrendy. approved will be varied by Army should require support abroad, the Territorial Army will be enleeffecting certain changes in compost- upon to give that support, serving not addition will be made to the numbers
sion and at the same time na drafts but in its own units and
of aircraft. formations.
"therefore holds an important squadrons to be formed for co
"Including four new Auxillary place in our defence organisation operation with the Territorial Army, nad it in
the intention of the new programme will increase the Majesty's Government to do Wit that is possible to encourage ita Force in this country, bringing up the. frat-line strength of the Royal Air recruiting and increase its efficiency.total to approximately 1,760 nirernft, "For the present, awing to the
"No less important is the responat anti-aircraft defence, const defence demands upon the capacity of indus./xclusive of the Fleet Air Arm.
bility of the Navy, stressed also in
and internal security, and, lastly, in the same document [the White Paper time of emergency of war to provide of March last on Defence for main-1s properly equipped force ready to talning free passage between the dif- preceed overseas wherever it may be ferent parts of the Empire of troeps wanted. and supplies of all kinda, thus nanur- ing the very foundation of our system of Imperial Defence..
"To render the Navy capable in all circumstances of fulfilling these re quirements,
It will be necessary not only to proceed with new construction at a more rapid rate than in recent years, but also to make good exist- Ing deficiencies in ammunition and
stores of all 'kinde, "Until the end of 1936 the strengths of all the principal Naval Powers are regulated by treaty.
trial output which must necessarily be made in the rat instance by the Regular Army, it simultaneously
is not possible 10 recondition the Territorial Army, but a beginning will "The present peace-time serving he made at once in the task of in- strength of the regular military field proving its present inadequate equip
is approxi-ment and training.
units
in Great Britain mately 115,000 mon.
INFANTRY: 4 NEW
BATTALIONS
DEFENDING VITAL TRADE CENTRES
of
"First-line figures taken by them- selves are, however, a misleading criterion
comparative діг strengths, as has been explained on many occasions, and in the present case the augmentation of offensive and defensive power which will result from the revised plans is greatly in excess of the numerical Increase just mentioned.
Alr
"The problem of co-ordinated defence is occupying the constant attention of the Committee of im perial Defence, with the co-operation "The modernisation of coast de-of all the Departments concerned. force constitutes the only source from abroad will be proceeded with at on the correlation of offensive and de- " must be remembered that this fences at defended ports at home and "Modern methods of defence al which immediate reinforcements to accelerated rate, and the reorganisa-fensive weapons are continually under any part of the Empire can be drawn, tion of anti-aircraft defences in the review, and the scheme has been so "Compared with 1914, our Army South-East of England which baxdrawn up na to ensure the necessary. has been reduced by no less than alrendy been authorised
degree of flexibility and the fult 21 baltallons of infantry, although
utilisation of the results obtaine our prace commitments are,greater
will be extended with a view to from continuous scientific than ever before.
covering the Important industrial and experiment.
research districts in the centre nud north of the country.
What will remain of this limitation after the conclusion of the present Naval Conference is not yet certain,
but it would seem Bikely that agree- ment will not extend beyond" ad-
"Owing to this reduction of infantry vance notification of annual pro-
we are unable to maintain the balance grammes, exchange of information of home and foreign service battalions, "The Government also consider, it and certain measures of qualitative and the result is hardship the unile essential to take immediate steps to limitation or the sizes of ships and which are given additional foreign improve the housing renditions of the service, and injury, both to recruiting Army, which are at present unsatis- and to the efficiency of our Army. factory, and progress in this mutter "His Majesty's Government propose will be made as rapidly as possible to raise four new battalions of in- during the next few yours.
"AIR FORCE NEEDS
their guns.
The agreement concluded in June, 1036, with Germany as a stabilising factor, which shows clearly the value
of quantitative agreementA when fantry, which will to nonto these can be obtained.
"The failure to arrive at ʼn generat agreement, however, does not nocna. sarily imply an intention on the part of other Powers to develop their nava atrength 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
extent
mitigate the presont difficulties of the palking duties, which our Imperial responsibilities place upon us. MODERNISING
FIELD ARTILLERY
MOST URGENT"
The prime function of the Royal Air-Force-is to provide an effective į deterrent to any atinek upon the vital interests of this country whether situated at home or overseas,
"In the present situation this is the most urgent and important of our de, fence requirements, and it has rightly received the special attention of Parliament.
12 SQUADRONS ON EMPIRE ROUTES
"The Royal Air Force ulso has responsibilities in the general scheme of Imperial defence. With our wide Imperial responsibilities, the ability to reinforce a threatened area in suffi- cient tine and in sufficient strength demands thr, location of air units at convenient places on the strategic air routes.
The Government propose an in- crease amounting to approximately "It is not intended, in connection
twelve squadrons for this purpose, with the present proposals, to make
"Mention has already been made any further increase in the number
of the four new auxillary squadrons which will of fighting units in the Regular Army
form a nucleus for co- beyond these four battalions,
operation with the Territorial Army, "But it is urgently necessary that
The five regular squadrons at prestat the Army formatione already exist Force approved by the House
"The programme of the Royal Air allotted for co-operation with the ing should be organised in the most
of Regular Army will be reorganised to effective form and equipped with Commons last year was designed to provide seven squadrons, each of
bring up the strength of the Force at twelve alreraft with approximately 1,500 first-line be needed us pilots in the Regular home to a total of 123 squadrons "Large numbers of young men will Air Force, the Auxiliary Squadrons und the Reserve. Many airnten will be required for enlistment to meet the varied requirements of the Service; and many boys will be needed for apprenticeship in the skilled trades.
the most modern armament
BRtl
material, together with adequate
"The London Naval Treaty pro hibits the building of new capital ships so long as it remains in force, 4. til December 31, 1936, but the process of replacement cannot be de
reserves of ammunition and stores. Inyod beyond that date, and it is in-
"Plans have been worked out for 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 oporation. 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 cruisers the aim is to increase modernised, the total number to 70, of which 60
would be under-age and 10 over- TERRITORIAL ARMY
age.
Five cruisers will be included:
in the 1936 programmes.
TO BE RECONDITIONED
aircraft.
"That programme is proceeding according to plan, but new develop menta in design will render it pos- nible to make great additions to the striking power of the Force.
"The latest types of machine which will shortly come into production ahow auch improvementa in speed,: range 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- "I is, of course, self-evident that
сев.
"A steady replacement programme "The Territorial Army, though ly to increase the operational effect-the provision of air forces will not for destroyers and submarines is con- generally regarded as the second line iveness of the squadrons to be equip-avail in war unless they are given the templated, while in the case of stoops 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 n lengthy and coinplicated undertaking. "The provision of adequate reserven in both men and material is an essen tial and urgent need, for without them the war effort of an Air Force could not be sustained.
AIR RAID
PRECAUTIONS
CLOSE WATCH
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INSPECTION OF BOOKS
prenta in design and invention, must be met by corresponding variations in our own plans.
to
"In presenting to Parliament & scheme of improved defonce so far reaching in character and likely to involve so heavy a financial outlay" says the third acetion, "his Majesty's Governmen 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 Defence.
"This Committed wax componed 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 Defence Ser- vices.
"Their conclusions were submitted: to the Dafence 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 gave his nctive ansialance in formulating the recom- mendations which they made to the Cabinet.
"The Defence Policy and Require-, ments Committee has served in effect hoth an a General Purposes Commit- tee of the Committee of Imperial Defence and as a Committee of liaison 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 detail included in the scheme, have been the subject of close examination and scrutiny by the Defence Policy and Requirements Committee and subsequently by the whole Cabinet,
In the opinion of Is Majesty's Government they represent a to- roughly considered and well-balanced whole so far as 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 nfresh and the changes, which have been approved by His Majesty's Government were announced by the Prime Minister on Feb. 27.
(This statement on the appointment of a "Deputy Defence Minister" was printed In full in the Newa Chranicie.]
the
re-
"It will be seen," continues White Paper, that the new arrange- ments contemplated are intended to serve two purposes, namely, to pro- vide an improved and strengthened apparatus for the consideration of Defence problems as a whole and to ensure the fullest and munt effective use of the industrial capacity and the man power available for production of material In the country. The second of these two objectives quires some further elaboration, CO-OPERATION WITH
EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS The problem before us differs materially from that with which we were faced in the Great War. Al that time the whole energien of the country, were devoted to winning the war and nothing else. Special powers were entrusted to the Government plete control which enabled them to exercise com
over industry and to direct it into any desired channel.
"To-day wo are at peace and morcover we are living in a period of great commercial and Industrial activity.
"What we have to do is to carry through, in a limited period of time, mearures which will make exception- ally heavy demands upon certain branches of industry and upon certain classes of skilled labour, without im- peding the course of normal trade.
This will require the most careful organisation and the willing co-opera- tion both of the leaders of industry and of trade unions if our task is to be successfully accomplished. But the Government have every confid- ence that these conditions will be fulfilled.
IMMENSE RESERVES
OR ORGANISED CAPACITY "Consideration of the position showed that there were really two different requirements to be anet: Ona has already been stated in the fore- going paragraph, and concernIS the carrying out of a peace-time pro-
"Particular attention has therefore been given to the provision of these reserves in the shortest possible time,gramme. The other concerns our and it can now be said that, adequate arrangements for this purpose are in train.
"In the meantime the passive alde of air defonce measures has not been neglected. The Air Rald Precautions Department of the Home Offico, set up in May of last year, has been actively engaged in the examination of the subject with local authorities and satisfactory progress has been made.
"Plans which have been prepared over a number of years' dre ́ now approaching the stage when they can be put into operation, and estl mates will be submitted in duc course for the expenditure which will be required during the current year.
Before passing to another subject, it must once more be emphasised that the pions for the Improvement of our dofonsive forces in all three Services must be regarded, as flexible and nut ject to varlation in detalls from time to time.
The whole fold of preparation will
readiness for war itself.
"Modern war conditions involve .n vast expenditure of munitions and equipment, and in the early months of the Great War there was a tragic loss of life in consequence of the Jack of adequate reserves,
"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 Immenso reserves or by so organising Industry- that it can rapidly change over at the vital points from commercial to war pro- duction should the necessity arise. "The first alternative, however, is only feasible within limits, and beyond that la ruled out not only on account of its cost, but because weapons and methods of warfare are continually changing, and theas accumulated ra-. arves might therefore well bocoma abanlete before. they were required.
·· “Illa ·Mnjosty's Government, there- fore, have turned to the second, alter
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