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Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1930, Page 4

It was once cited in Germany as a proof of Britain’s degeneracy flint she maintained so small an army in India. After what happened between 19141918 this criticism remarks the Auckland Star is not likely to be fired at Britain again but the tact of a small army in a vast population remains. In all India so it is revealed in this year’s Army Estimates, there are only 00,000 white soldiers, a total 17,000 less than the strength when the war began. Tliis figure, and the whole of the statement liy the Minister for War. shows how absurd it is to attribute a spirit oT militarism to Britain. ’I he actual strength of tin- Army is 209.000 which is surely not excessive for a lorce called oil to poli: e a w'orld-wide Empire, wlroh. if the mandated territories are included and what. British troons had to do recently in Palestine is fresh in the public memory—is actually larger than it was before the war. Another featnre oT the situation that illustrates the essentially non-military character ol the British people is the reference

to difficulty in recruitment. The' soldier to-day is in an infinitely better position than his predecessor who stormed Badajoz and relieved Lucknow. He is getter paid, bettor fed, and better housed and his prospects of employment afterwards are brighter. .Moreover, the whole tone of the Army is much higher than it was in those days. Vet, .wit'll hundreds of thousands ol men out of work, Ihe Army is 14,000 short.' There arc several reasons lor this, hut the one we arc concerned with here is the old ingrained dislike of soldiering. If the people of Britain were really a military race they would surely; especially when unemployment is so rife supply the mod'” demands of the War Office. As might have been expected, an attempt was made hv some mem hens of the Labour party to reduce even this strength. One cited the demand of the Prime Minister that risks should he taken in the cause of nea.o, and said that the reduction in the Army Estimates represented a risk of only one per cent. The real risk, however, is to be measured by the relation between possible dangers and actual precautions. For example, to most people who have studied the Indian question it will seem that a considerable risk is being run already. These objectors are doctrinaires, prepared to push. a. conviction to extremes, regardless of cousoquen os. As the Secretary for War remarked further reduction of armaments must he reciprocal. Both on the sea and on the land Britain has given convincing proof of her sincerity in this direction hut she has responsibilities that sue cannot neglect. Even if Europe disarmed completely to-morrow, it might still be necessary for Britain to maintain an army for oversea service,