DEMOBILISATION DELAYED

Chronicle (Levin), 15 September 1948, Page 5

DEMOBILISATION DELAYED

(N.Z.P.A.-

Reuter .

World Situation Forces Britain To Change Defence Plans

Copy right)

Received Wednesday, 10.55 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 14. The Government has decided that national servicemen due for release in the next few months, and who have not left their units for release by today, must be retained for three months beyond the normal dates. The strength of the forees by the end o.f the year would be 80,000 greater than they would have been if the planned programme was continued.

The Leader of the House of Commons, Mr. Herbert Morrison, announcing in the Commons the seryice extension, said that a special fecruiting campaign for all three services was due to be started. "We must also accelerate the improvement of our equipment, especially in the field of air defence, armour and infantry weapons. This statement should not be received in any panicky spirit. We regret that such a statement should have to be made." The Government had taken risks with demobilisation, said Mr. Mor-, rison, but the state of the world: made a change in plans inevitable., The extension of the service was! precautionary. Mr. Morrison added that the i Foreign Minister, Mr. Ernest Bevin, 1 would review the international { situation next week. ; The House would appreciate' from the Press that there was ten- I sion in many parts of the world, 1 continued Mr. Morrison. Despite ; all the efforts being made to solvel the many problems drising from! the late war, the position gave cause for anxiety. In these circum- j stances, the Prime Minister, Mr.j Attlee, had asked him to make this ! statement in the House. I Mr. Morrison recalled that since j the middle of 1945 the Government had carried out a planned andorderly demobilisation of the] forces. This demobilisation had I involved- certain risks and in any] demobilisatioh process after a' great war there was bound to be aj certain lack of balance through] the rapid outflow of skilled person- j nel and the slow build-up of j trained cadres to replace them. Inj the situation then existing, the j Government felt justified in taking those risks, but unhappily the i state of the world made some change in the plan inevitable. "In the present circumstances the Government has no choice but to take certain precautionary measures." ' Mr. Morrison then announced the three months' extension of service. He added that the release of class B personnel and compassionate releases -would not be aff eCted. The increase of 80,000 would be in trained personnel who were thel real need. Mr. Morrison said that the Government regretted having to take this step, but the White Paper published when the demobilisation scheme was agreed on had made it plain- that the scheme might have to be revised. Mr. Morrison said that the re-

, tention of national servicemen was not the only step being taken to strengthen the defences. First, there would be a stimulation of re- > cruiting for the regular forces, | which were essential for immediate . duties and for training the nation- | al service intake. It was also esj sential that trained auxiiiary j forces vital for defence be brought ; up to strength as soon as possible. ; In the Army's case the need was ; to have cadres of trained men I ready to receive those called up : under the National Service Acts after they had completed their ! full-time service. "The key position which air defence units and fighter squadrons hold in our defence and the guarding of our sea routes and com.munications make it no less important that we should bring the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve up to strength," continued Mr. Morrison. A special campaign was being started to achieve this recruitment and the Government counted on the firm support of all who had the standing and influence to help secure success for this campaign. Mr. Morrison said that this decision must affect the field of supply. "We must, therefore, accelerate the improvement of our equipment position, especially for air defence, armour and infantry weapons. The overhaul of wartime stocks of equipment has been speeded up. The Services and Supply Departments are speeding this process and increasing their ^lanpower for the purpose. "Extra work is required from some factories and we are adopting measures which will nearly double the rate of output of certain fiehters. Older types of fighters in store will be reconditioned. We have not only to meet our own needs of aircraft, but those of other countries, including those of the Western Union using British types. "Considerable progress has already been made in planning civil defence. The defence policy must depend on world conditions and must, therefore, be subject to review, but the measures I have .announced are rendered hecessary;'at. the moment by the immediate demands on the resources of the - armed forces. These measures will affect our eeonomy, but will not, we hope, jeopardise our recovery." The Ministry of Labour and National Service stated that the Forces in July had been reduced by 31,000, leaving a total of 816.000.