CRIPPLING THE ARMY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 877, 22 January 1930, Page 9

CRIPPLING THE ARMY

DRASTIC REDUCTION IN WAR OFFICE VOTE EXPENSE OF RHINE TROOPS LONDON. Tuesday. The “Daily Telegraph” says the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Philip Snowden, has decided upon a “drastic and crippling reduction” of the Army Estimates. Originally these totalled £2,500,000 above those of last year, but he demands that the whole increase shall be wiped out. If this is effected, says the paper, it will mean the ruthless scrapping and paring away of every form of re-equip-ment and training. This is to be done in order not to increase unemployment. The proposed reductions include the curtailment of all military expenditure at the Singapore base. The difficulties of the War Office have been increased by having to find £1,000.000 in connection with the return of the Rhine Army. Germany hitherto has paid these expenses. A reduction will be injurious to the efficiency of the Army, as it will be obtained by cutting off. such changes as the development of motor transport. The pay of soldiers will not be touched except by an automatic reduction of 1 per cent. Tljis will save £120.000.