Army Estimates

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 216, 12 March 1914, Page 5

Army Estimates

RELYING ON THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS. MOBILISATION EXPEDITED. GREAT SHORTAGE OF TERRITORIALS. . By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 11, 10.25 p.m. London. March 11. Colonel Scely, Secretary for War, In introducing the Army Estimates, said that although there was a shortage of 8000 regulars, there was a surplus of 13,000 reservists. The speeding-up of mobilisation had been remarkably successful, an expeditionary force of 102,000, .complete in all details, and 50.000 of all arms could be ready in a few hours to go anywhere. Though the Territorials were 50.000 short, the year's recruiting . had been the biggest on record, and there was a continuous and substantial increase in efficiency. He would not say that such an army would be able to meet eveiy Imperial call. For this they would want the help of the Dominions overseas, but our army would be able to cope with a bolt from the blue. The National Reserve was now over 217,000. If Britain went to war tomorrow she would want 102,000 horses. There were 275,000 avail: hie. It was untrue that foreigners were depleting the British supply. Tests for accuracy showed the American rifh first and the British second, hut the British was superior in all-round reliability.