1937-03-18 — Page 3

THE

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1937.

ΤΟ

UTILISE

HOW BRITAIN PROPOSES

DEFENCE FUNDS

Navy, Army And Air Force Expansion

IN accordance with a request made in the House of Commons when the Defence Bill was introduced the Government has now issued a White Paper setting forth in brief detail the gramme of Defence that it proposes to undertake.

ed to dealing with the problems of Do-grammes so as to ensure that the num-2 with the same typos of weapons s fance by elnatie means susceptible of ber of new vessels of ench type to be thoma with which the Regular Army la

aptation in the light of changes in laid down shall be approximately the equipped. world conditions and of the new needs samo in each year,

23. During the next few years. It will which, oris from the intensivo appllen- If this pion can be followed the costs be necessary to make provision in Army tlon of Keleftine research and inven of construction are spread ovenly, and Estimates for heavy capital expendituro tion to the problems of Defence. the Navy never finds italt at any time on works services in order to bring In the position that an undue propor- barrack necommodation up to modern tion of the fleet constate of old or standards and to provide the additional obsolescent ships.

storage, workshops and buildings re- quired for modern mechanised forces.

programme of fiis Majesty's

ment.

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

V

b. The essential features of the While Paper of March 1930 remain unchanged, although certain measures of accelera- 11. in present circumstances, how- tion have been approved by Parilament: ever, an aven spread of now building On the present occasion, therefore, is impossible, and for some years the is unnecessary to ropent in detail the country will be constrained to under information given a year ago on the take a series of heavy building pro- THE AIR FORCE®

Govern- gramjack,

The main reasons for this course are, Largest Acquisition Of frat, that a considerable number of our proInflate the width of the field neces-at will shortly become over-age, and Rather the opportunity is taken to existing ships are war-bulit and are

New Aerodromes. Merily covered by the Defenen-program-cond, that no vessels of certain type-wan-stated-in-the White Paper. me in cansequence of the extent of the were built for a number of the years of March 1980 that the prima function deaciencles to be made good, the underminediately after the war.

of the Royal Air Forco is to provide nn effective

nttnck deterrent to any lying strategic requirements and the changing conditions of modern warfare.

upon the vital interests of this country whether at home or ovoricas. It may bo added also that in recent years the range and performance of modern air. craft have undergone rapid develop=

creasingly vulnerable to air attack. are to be effective, be provided with posible to lay down any new vessels ment and this country has becante in arma and defences more Ingenious and Two such ship (costing approxi- The strength of the Royal Air Force formidable and for more contly than mately £8,000,000 each) were included has become o matter of paramount in the 1036 now construction pro-importance, and no effort has been or any conceived a generation ago.

gramme, and preliminary steps have is being spared to bring that Force up Geen taken which will permit of the to the strength and standard of em- ordering of three further capital alps clency which His Majesty'a Gavern- early in the Americial year 1837-8 as ment deem requisite for our safety. part of the now construction programme for that year, ne roon as that pro- gramme han received Parliamentary nuthority.

The paper, which is published in full below, states that although authority is sought to raise a maximum of £400 millions for services from April this year to April 1942 it does not imply that the whole of this sum will in fact be raised, nor does it re present the total cost of ex- penditure on Defence. The opportunity is taken to indicate the width of the field necessarily covered by the Defence programme in consequence of the extent of the deficiencies to be made good, the underlying strategic requirements and the changing conditions of modern warfare.

The paper states that the modernisation of the defences of strategic points in various parts of the Empire is in itself formidable item in the cost of the Deforce programme.

STRATEGIC POINTS IN EMPIRE

FORMIDABLE ITEM IN COST

THE White Paper rends:—

d. Recent years have witnessed an 12. Of our Alteen explial ships, only Immenso elaboration of the mechanical three are of pont-war construction. equipment of Fighting Services, in many¦ Until the expiry of the London Naval countries. Modern forces, whether on Treaty on December 31, 1930, it was not land, at sea, of in the air, must, if they)

MAINTENANCE Moreover, it is not sufflelent to equip one or at anal, must he pasured sino of the swift and steady replacement of its equipment and sup plies as war proceeds.

of this clay.

cruisers

This aim entails both substantial "ex-

penditure of a capital nature, and a

nrgo increase in recurrent costs.

The programmo for the Royal Air Forco Includes the acquisition and pre- paration of large numbers of now nern, romes, with the building of over 70 operational, training and other stations at home and abroad. The increase in the number of squadrons entalla corres- ponding additiona to the capacity of' Lealning and other ancillary establish- ments generally.

This Is a circumstance which has a

13. In regard to cruisors, it was most Important hearing on the cost of stated in the White Paper, of March; the Defence progranime,

last that our aim was to increase the 7. The growth in the destructive total from about 50 to 70, of which 60 powers of Ale Forcen and their increas- would be under-age and 10 over-age, ing range compel the adoption of and that five crulaces would be includ- whole system of new measures, nocea ed in the 1938 programme, If events, which cannot now before arily involving heavy cost, for air de-Later, a measure of acceleration was neen, should show that amendment is fenes at home and oversens and for the deemed necessary, and the number of

for, either is the maximum In the statement made in the House called

The personnel of the Force han al- 8. While the necessity for modern raised to never. It is anticipated that in the 1936 programme was

ready risen from 31,000 in 1938 to of Commons on February 11, the Chan amount or in the period of years apeci. Protection of the civil population.

Resolution, the equipment and for protection against mevon will be included in the 1937 pro-

over 50,000 In 1936, while a further cellor of the Exchequer explained that, fed in the proponed while defence expenditure during the necessary ironsures will be submitted air attack in common to many nations.

large increase in contemplated in the the wide dispersal of the territories 14. Some acceleration

coming financial year. was also enaulty years could not equitably be te Parliament.

3. In the meantime, na explained in comprised within the British Empire elded upon in the construction of air- met entirely from revenue, and must the Memoranduri dated February 11, on and the dependence of these aiande

NEW AERO ENGINES from

craft carriers. Two of these vinseln, In part rent on appropriations

the proposed Resolution (Cmd. 6309), upon supplies from Dversens capital, prither the total amount which Parliament will retain full control over special

ayinstenil of one as originally contem- responsibility upon British must raised from capital; nor the

Forces and, above all, upon the Navy Plated, were laid down in 1930, and total petie over which auch capital, Defence expenditure.

two further vennela of this typo will expenditure must be aprend, could diture will continue to be shows in the tlun overseas,

The whole of such proposed expen to preserve the freedom of communica- probably be included in the 1937 pro-

which In vital to our present be predicted.

taid before the House of existence. 2. Constitutionni usage requires that the Bill now proposed to be introduced Commons, and will be subject to the. normal methods of Parlamentary should specify upward mits which

scrutiny and nuthorisation.

Estimates

cannot be exceeded except by further will niso be provided that the sums mintutory authority.

The authority which is Majesty', which may be appropriated in aid of Defence expenditure under the B31;

fiovernment neck for the invae of met not m the course of may nancial sums not exceedlog in the 4gzrexate your exceed the sums shown in the £400 millions, to be applied as AP- Estimates leid in connection with the propriatios in aid of the moneys Vaten approved by the House, of Com-1 proviited hy Parliament for the Demons by Reaolution in Supply. fence Services over the five yea from April 1, 1937 to March 31, 1942, does not imply that the whole of this sume will in fnet he raised.

The guro of £100 millions representa the maximum aggregate num to be pro. vided from borrowed money or from

be asked to nuthorize.

“MODIFICATIONS

· II

GROWTH IN COMPLEXITY AND COST OF NEW ARMAMENTS GENERALLY

4. In the White Paper presented to

gromate.

gramme.

AVERAGE COST.

de

26 As regards, equipment, the main of the Royal Air Force requirement conslets, of course, of the very large numbers of air-fraines and aero-engines necessary to equip the new squadron and to provide sufcient reserves to ensure that the Brot-ling strength ean The modernisation of the defences| 15. The result of this increased ha adequately maintained on active ser of strategle points in various parts building programmu upon Navy Enti-vice. of the Empire is, in itself, a formid-mates may be indicated by a consider- Further, the development of new able item in the cost of the Defence ation of the average cost of the new types, which is constantly proceeding. programme.

constraction programmes

recent tends to result in the production of years, tho. Agures being those of the more efficient, but at the same time complete cost of all vessele laid down more costly machines. Ela ñny particular year.

20. Other Items required by the pro- The average cost for the years 1931-4gename of expansion include the pro- was less than £12 millions, but the coat vision of specialised equipment for air- of the 1980 programme, including the craft, stores of bombs and other am- measures of acceleration referred to a muniiten, adequate reserves of fuel, the preceding paragraph, will be nearly additional motor transport and the 400 millions. It is contemplated that storage accommodation required for re the cost of the 1837 progronimo will be serves of all kinds. substantially higher.

III

THE NAVY

Construction Of New Ships

0. There in no teed to amplify the statement of the Navy's functions con tained in the White Papers presented heavy expenditure must also be in. 16. In addition to now construction, the Old Sinking Furd towards the total Parliament in March, 1946, (Crad. 6107) in Parliament in 1948 and 1930 (Cod. curred in modernising existing vessels. cont of Defence which Parlament win outline was given of the objectives 4827 nud 5107). Heavy expenditure

Linie et, with an indication of the must be incurred over the next few This apples, not only to enplist ships el care accessory for the your IT TO NAS CE to c but alan to cruisers The provision of The whole Defence programmio will, reconditioning of our forces, as part of the strength necessary to ensure that improved anti-aircraft defence is re- however, remain flexible and will be the co-ordinated plan which had been it will be in a position to performs these quired.

At the same time the acquisition in nubiect to such modification na elṛcum-drawn up. stances may demand. If conditions MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

suficient quintily and proper quality of the tuition, fuel, stores and various equipment of all types which. the Navy requires hué also to proceed, |

17. The programimo will involve a further large Încrease in the strengthe of the personnel of the Navy, na well w expenditure on the provision

should permit, the programme will be curtailed or its execution will he aprend over a longer period.

Coming specially to the

Gloucester

GALA PREMIERE

MARCH 27th

IMMEDIATE

RESERVATIONS. ADVISED

Ax that paper shows, great Import ance has from the outset been attach-

functions,

10. New construction constitutes one of the main heads of this expenditure. In normal timer it is of great advan tage to arrange new construction pro-

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27. It must be appreciated that the scale of expenditure on the mainten obtained before the present measures Once of the Royal Air Force which of expansion were put in hand will be very lovely increased to provide for the future upkeep of the Force, even when the initial expenditure on the ex- pansion programme has been met.

VI

RESERVE FACTORY

CAPACITY

Emergency Measures For Aircraft And Munitions.

| adaptation-of-new quiiteri, and on hus| periant new works' services needed in the Dockyards and other Naval Estn- blishments, more particularly In con-i

28. The mensures briefly referred to nection with storage for muuftion, in the preceding paragraphs would not,

it fuel and other reserves,

however, suflee to meet the needs of 18. The Flest Air Arm is being sub- the Defence Services, unless adequate stantially, increased in numbers of air preparations were ntade. In pence time cruft, and considerable mensures of re to ensure a wuffelent supply of muni equipment-are-also-necessary-to-keep-tions and stores in time of emergency. pace with the evolution of more power- ful types.

IV

THE ARMY · Modernisation Of Equipment

10. It was sinted in the White Paper of March last that the only increase in the number of fighting units in the Regular Army then preppsed was the creation of four new battalions of in- Instry. These units are required for maintaining our OverECAS garrisons. Two of them are to be raised in the near future.

For this reason, steps are being taken to build up what has come to ba known as a "war potential."

Thus in the aircraft industry; over and above the expansion of the capa- elty of the existing aircraft firms, stops have been taken to build "xhadow" afr. craft factories,

Thero factories will be available in Any emergency to provide nircraft in large quantities, and since they will be used in the Arat-Malorico to supply lrcraft required for the expansion scheme, the engineering firms who are en-operating in the scheme will thereby gain invaluable experienco In the technique of aircraft manufacture.

3. The samu principle is being adopted in regard to the supply of other types of munitions. Extensions Certain ndditional increnses ure of plant are being laid down by firms #ecessary. There include two new

not normally engaged on the produc Army Tank battalions, one of which tion of munitions, and the orders placed will be, raliod in the near future, and with these Arms fulgi the double pur- certain unciliary troops necessary tu pose of making good existing deficien- enuble a modern force to operate effec- |tively in the field.,

20. While recruiting has atrendy abown some slight improvement, it has been decided to adopt certain measures designed to Improve conditions in the Army and to make the Service more attractive. Detalls of this scheme will be_nnounced shortly,

cles, and of providing means for the rapid expansion of output in war' time.

MUNITION FACTORIES

aro

These extensions of capacity being made under arrangements which ensure their retention over a period of years, after the existing orders have been completed, in n form capable ofi rnold turnover to munitions In the event of emergency.

The adoption of these measures will bring about a considerable increase in normal maintenance costs, as a result 10. In making plans for the Industriali of the increased numbers which it is resources required by the Forces it is expected will be borne on the strength,, necessary to have regard to the risks and of the additional expense rising of ale attack. Steps have bean requls. from the nienstres denigned to stimuite in various Instances to ensure that late recruiting.

MILITARY EQUIPMENT,

sources of essential supplies are suf ciently dispersed, and in some cases a degree of duplication of cxsential ser- vices is necessary even at the cost of some increang in axpenditure.

21. The main Increase in expenditure on the Regular Army falls, however, 1. A number of new Government under the heading of equipment. Viowed factories for the manufacture of ex- from the stand-point of the varloty and plosives, and for the filling of sholls extent of our Imperini responsluflities, and bombs, are being built or plented. or of comparison with continental These factories represent in part the forces, our Regular Army In small in removal to safer focalities of existing numbers. It is, therefore, all the more establishments, and in part the addi- Important that ita equipment and lions required to bring capacity up to organisator should be brought up to the Increased needs of the three Sar the highest standard in all respects. vices.

Accordingly, atopa are now in active progress for the madernisation of the equipment of the fold artillery, in- fantry and all branches of the service. The progress of mechanisation, Involv ing the provision of a complete system). of motor transport and of. armoured vehicles of all types, is being- accolor- ated.

32., Steps are also being taken to see i that national establishments and in dustries, vital to the Defence Bervices, are not paralysed by the shortage_of certain essential raw materials. The accumulation of essential reserves for these and other purposes is in hand, and will of course Involve vory suché : stantial expenditure.

The raquirements of modern war de- The provision of adequate supplies of mand the accumulation of Immense ro- fuel of the types required by each of serves of ammunition to covot the Brst the three Services and for civilian needs, months before productive capacity can as well as their protection and replen. bo. Increase!, and the ecossary -or- ishment in the event of war, have' re«. rangements for this provision are being colyod' special consideration... mado.

BARRACK ACCOMMODATION

...VII

HOME DEFENCE

22. For the time being the urgent 13. Tha.ndeds of Home Defence now noeds of the Regular Army have had require a number of specifie to take priority over thom of the sach of much importance.

Territorial Army. But in any survey Now

:

Moasures

Foremost among these is the pro- covering: a period of yours Becount vision of anti-aircraft defence. must be taken af the zoquirements of Two divisions of the Territorial Army the latter, more especially since the have been re-formed ・ and greatly er- _training_of_the Territorial Army..it at panded-for-this essential service, and present overaly handicapped; by, the| Further, expansion is to take placo dur- lack of modern' equipment.”

Plans are being drawn up to remedying the forthcoming year.

This expansion involves the, provkij this situation, and stops wiit be taken,sion of new Territoriel Army headquat. as soon as the supply positión "permítaj

to enable the Territorial Army to train

(Continued on Page 10.)

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