1939-05-19 — Page 18

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1089.

WATSON'S

YE OLDE

ENGLISH

FACTS for the 10h.p.

motorist

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ITS DISTINGUISHED AND REFRESHING QUALITIES MAKE AN IMMEDIATE AND LASTING APPEAL TO THE WOMAN 'OF TASTE.

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THE HONGKong dispeNSARY

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IN THE FAR EAST IS ITS ABILITY TO WITHSTAND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

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official trial..

roads, the 1,000 miles of public

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Reliability is unquestioned ..... . * Vauxhall 10, standard in every way. covered 2,175 miles across Europe in the Monte Carlo Bally. Through anaw, foods, Ice-bound roads and over Alpine passen li did not lose a mark.

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'Phone 26615 May 19, 1939

The King of Canada FOR THE first time in history

con-

the North American tinent now has an actual physical monarchy, in the person of His Majesty King George VI who, from the moment he stepped ashore at Quebec on Wednesday night, became King George VI of Canada,

Although His Majesty sailed from London in the Royal liner Empress of Australia as King of England he automatically be- came King of Canada with his arrival in the senior Dominion.

When he enters the United States on June 7 for his five-day state visit to President Roosevelt -the first British Ruler to visit the great nation lost by his namesake in the eighteenth cen- tury-the King will once again become King of England, since. it was as such that he received the President's invitation.

Such constitütional technicali- ties are the direct result of the Statute of Westminster, enacted in 1931 to give effect to the re- solutions of the Imperial Con- ferences of 1926 and 1930.

The Statute-Magna Carta of the Dominions-changed the en- tire relationship between the Crown and the Empire. It made the King belong to his Domin- lons, and the Dominions to him. Each Dominion was designated a self-governing member of the Commonwealth, and the King became the head of each in- dividual State.

Indeed, it is almost certain that future Rulers of the British. Commonwealth will be required to be crowned separately, in the capitals of each Dominion, as King of Canada, King of Austra- lia, King of South Africa and King of New Zealand. Tech- nically, although there has been but one Coronation, His Majesty is regarded in the Dominions not as King of England but as King of the Dominions.

05 Boon

મ

The Statute of Westminster implies that each new reigning monarch shall, possible, visit his various Dominions. India would under ordinary circumstances have re- ceived a visit from the Emperor and Empress had not conditions in that Dominion been so un- Bettled,

1.

Because of the vast distances involved in travelling to Austra- lia and New Zealand, it is un- likely that thess Dominions will receive visits from the present Ruler and his consort...

But it is safe to presume that His Majesty's successor,Prin- cess Elizabeth, will be crowned, not only in Westminster Abbey, but in Ottawa, Canberra, Wel lington, Durban and New Delhi,

TRYING TO ADJUST THE

I F BRITAIN WERE

AXIS

Tum

ATTACKED

Is Our Army

W

of to-day All Right?

HY does Britain need an army? Is it neces sary? This year it is costing £161 millions, which is £46 millions more than ever before and four times what it cost in 1914.

Surely, it may be said, a strong navy and air force abould sumce for our protection! As tax-payers ought we not to protest? Is it not possible, indeed probable, that an Inelclent War Ofce, with its empty-headed old generals, is to -blame for this seemingly gross ex-

travaganco?

Let us examine the problem. The functions which the army is ex- pected to perform are:

(a) Ifome Defence,

(b). Defence of naval and atrial barcs; which exist to enable our ravy and air fored to safe», guard communications and to operate freeig 爱情 distant theatres,

(e) Defence, and, to some extent, policing of the oversees Empire. (d) Fulfilment of treaty obligations with France, Portugal," Boupt und Iraq.

(0) Provision of strategia rescruca. These various functions are not a succession of alternatives. They may have to be carried out in full and Limultaneously, as in the Great War.

THEY entail that the Army must be organised, trained and equipped to fight in every conceivable type.of country and climate and against oppo- nents differing as widely as the fierce mountaineers of Waziristan, the Araba of Palestine and the mechanised forces of Germany.

In mere verbal description, they have altered but little from those which an army was expected to fulfil a quarter of a century ago. Actually, however, there have been, both in order of importance, and method of fulfiment, immense changes.

Home dofence was a maiter of minor importance in 1814, when a superior Navy appeared to afford a sure guard to the British Isles,

It has now, in AA defence, jumped. Into first place, and seven divisions of tho Territorial Army are to become front line troops, with an order of readiness superior by far to that -expected of the B.E.F. in 1914.

These troops have the responsibility. in conjunction with ARP. balloon barrages, and aerial fighters, at pro- tecting the beart. of the Empire, and success or failure may determine our fate in the first few weeks of a war.

A SECOND great changs. is that of mechanisa- tion. The horse hos practically vanished, and with him the burden of forage which, in the war. exceeded, not only in bulk, but even in weight, that of ammunition.

1

In place, petrol and oil would be in demand by thousands of tons. Apart. from the Tank Corps, now growing, apato, the whole of the artillery, the transport and the greater part of the cavalry have boen, mechanised, and in«, fantry: can be carried if/blusde; one- third at a time by lorry,

This change, though exceedingly costly, opens up great poweiblities of the removal of open warfare where

しょ

skilfully exploited. conditions admit and Instruments are

On the other hand, that form of

mechanisation which lies in the re- Bren, for instance has made tremen- placement of man by machlue-by the dous bounds in recent years

With the numerous antidotes to the tank, it has to greatly increased the power of the defence that the aggres- sor is likely to succeed only if he man- nges to disarm his opponent by the suddenness and overwhelming strength of his stroke.

D

when fully trained, constituta striking instrument of great mobility and power. Adding to our other field forces: two infantry divisions in the Middle East and one armoured and four infantry divisions at home, we shall have, exclusive of garrisons and Dominion troops, a total striking strength of some 20 divisions.

These changes, together with the res pletion of stocks which had fallen dangerously low, and the construction of barracks to replace tenements Do longer habitable, and the transfer, due to political changes, of 10,000 men THE Army 18 being IC---Ishment, account largely for the re- from the Indian to the Ilome Estab organised into new formations as follows:

(a)" Armoured Divisions," of which we have one and, later, shall have two at home and one in Egypt. They vonsist of armoured and mechanised cavalry brigades, tank brigades and mechanised artillery.

(b) Divisions, in which infantry forma the principal constituent. They are

to containi siz or nina battalions, to- gather with un appropriate attribu tion of the other arms according to the task with which they are con fronted. For instance, the 7th Divi- sion in Palestine at the moment con- tatus nine battalions, one hors cavalry regiment and a tiny allot. ment of guNE.

OD

Some of these divisions are wholly motorised and all their Bren machine- Kuns Bro transported

lightly armoured carriers.

They are known as "Motorised Divi- sions." In the ordinary division, only ten Bren guns per battalion are on carriers, the heavy machine-gun batta- ilon is motorised and infantry brigades can be transported, one at a time, by larry.

The Territorial field army is fol lowing suit. It is to consiat, in a future not far distant, of ons "armoured divi sion," three motorised divisions, and nine ordinary divisions.

Bo organised and equipped, I will..

cent immense increases in Army costs. Then there are the changes caused by the submarine and the aeroplane. They render it dimcult, until com- mand of the aca and nscendancy in the air have been achieved, for an Army to be transported through hostile waters-more especially, narrow water such as the Mediterranean

It has accordingly become doubtful If and when forces in Australasia and India can reinforce, or, be reinforced by, forces in Britali end the Middle East, and troops in Britain reinforce troops in the Middle East.

Yeh in spite of increased responsi billies in Palestine and Imna, our feld Army, together with reserves, is less by 125,000 men than it was in 1014.

FINALLY, there is the change in the political situation In 1914, France, Russia, Japan, Bel- to consider.

gium. Berbia, were our allles. Italy and Spain were neutral. Today, Italy. Japan and possibly pain may be added to our enemies. Ruaala is an enigma, in whom we may place hope but not faith, and the small nationa incline to be neutral.

Moreover, the dictator nations, In their role of aggressors, have the price- Jess benefit of the initiative. Thus, in the intervening years, the balance of power, particularly as concerns the

GRIN AND BEAR IT

By Lichty

that, Jeevee-30 cars they're married and they still go

around together!"

3

JIBUTI

by Major-General H. ROWAN- ROBINSON

Third of the series of articles on Britain's defensive Forces Is by a distinguished soldier, who was awarded the CMG. and D.5.0. In the Great War. Ke was twice wounded, and later was severely injured in an air crash in Kurdistan while serving there. For four years he was, Inspector-Gen- eral of the Iraq Army. Is the author of several authoritative books on milliary topics.

Army, has shifted greatly to cur dis- ndvantage.

Moreover, British interests are every- where imperilled at short range.

Since 1938, the threat to France has Increased enormously, Oernaby and Italy, with combined populations of 120 millions, menace her 40 millions, some of whom may have to guard the Pyrenees.--

THE Maginot Line is in- deed immensely strong.. and, technically, the defensive power of modern weapons 15. tremendous; but history teema with instances of the penetration of forti- .fed lines previously deemed impreg

nable

this case, where the dispropor- tion of force is high and the initiative Hes with the usailiant, it would seem dangerous. If not suicidal, to rely. in our plans on the power of the French to maintain their line for a long period without support.

Enough has now perhaps been said to show that the War Office and the generals would have been wanting in their duty had they falled to demand an increase in the Army's strength.

Is that Army, with its present strength, organisation and system of recruitment, equal to the tasks likely to fall to its lot?

Would the dispatch to the Conti- nent of 18 divisions, any 250,000 troops, spread over a period of alx months constituto a serious reinforcement in, a battle of millions to an ally whose can

hued existence is essential to our* own?

These are queations for our people to deelde, bearing in mind the changes- in conditions, imperial and interna tional, which have been outlined.

Carried To Wedding

Tealby, Lincolnshire.

A BRIDESMAID was carried up the aisle at a wedding at Osgodby, near Market Rasen, recently.

Later she was wheeled to the re- -ception in a bath chair,

She was Miss Kathleen Horton, life-long friend of the bride, Miss Frances Anne Wilson.

YOUTHFUL PLEDGE

As girls they came to an agreement that when one of them was to be married the other would be brides- mald.

...

Then Miss Wilson mot Mr. Frank Markham. They became engaged.

1.

Then Miss Horton broke her ankle.. "Miss Horton said: "Friends sald I would have, to give up the idea of being, a bridesmaid, but I was-de- termined to go on with it