BRITAIN’S FORCES ARE TO BE INCREASED

Grey River Argus, 16 September 1948, Page 5

BRITAIN’S FORCES ARE TO BE INCREASED

National Service Term Extended and Air Force Recruiting LONDON, Sept. 14. The British Government has decided that national servicemen due .for release in the next few months, and who had not left their units for release by to-day must be retained for three months beyond the normal dates. The strength of the forces by the end of the year will therefore be 80,000 greater than they would' have been if the planned programme was continued. Mr Herbert Morrison, announcing in the House of Commons, the service extension, said a special recruiting campaign for all three services was due to be started. “We must also accelerate the improvement of equipment, especially in the field of air defence, armour and infantry weapons,” he said. “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, but the state of the world made the changed plans, inevitable. The extension of service was precautionary. Mr Ernest Bevin would review the international situation; next week. The House would appreciate from the press that there was tension in many parts of the world. Despite all the efforts being made to solve many problems arising from the late war, the position gave cause for anxiety. In these circumstances the Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, had asked him to make this statement in the House. Mr Morrison recalled that since the middle of 1945 the Government had carried out planned, orderly demobilisation of the forces. This involved certain risks. In any demobilisation process after a great war there was bound to be a certain lack of balance through the rapid outflow of skilled personnel and slow build up of trained cadres to replace them. In the situation then existing ,the Government’felt justified in taking those risks, but unhappily the state of the world made some changed 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. The release, of class B personnel and compassionate releases would not be affected. The increase of 80,000 men by the end of the year would be in trained personnel, who were the real need. The Government regretted having to take this step, but the White Paper published when the demobilisation scheme was agreed on made it plain that the scheme might have to be revised. RECRUITING TO BB SPEEDED Mr Morrison said the retention of national servicemen was not the only step being taken to strengthen the defences. First there would be stimulation of recruiting for the regular forces, which were essential for immediate duties, and for the training of the national service intake. It was also essential that trained auxiliary forces vital for defence should be brought up to strength as soon as possible. In the Army’s case the need was to have cadres of trained men ready to receive those called up under the National Service Act after they had completed their full-time service. AIR FORCE RECRUITING

“The key position which air defence units and fighter squadrons hold in our defence and the guarding of our sea routes and communications make it no less important that we should bring the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve up to strength,” Mr Morrison said. A special campaign was being started to achieve this recruitment and the Government counted on the firm support of all who had standing and influence to help to secure success for this campaign. Mr Morrison said this decision must affect the field of supply. “We must therefore accelerate an improvement of the equipment position, especially for air defence, armour and infantry weapons. The overhaul of the war-time stocks of equipment pas been speeded up. The services and supply departments are speeding this process and increasing their manpower 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 .fighters. The older types of fighters in store will be reconditioned.” WESTERN UNION AIRCRAFT NEEDS

Mr Morrison continued: “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 prpgress thas already, been made in planning civil defence. Our defence policy must depend on world conditions and must therefore be subject to review, but the measures I have announced are rendered necessary at the moment by the immediate demands on the resources of the armed forces. These measures will affect our economy, but will not, we hope, jeopardise our recovery.” The Minister of Labour and National Services stated that the forces in July were reduced by 31,000, leaving a total of 816,000.