IMPERIAL ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1922, Page 5

IMPERIAL ARMY.

QUESTION OF REDUCTION. DEBATE IN COMMONS. SIR H. WILSON’S SOLUTION. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received March 23, 7.50 p.m. London, March 22. A powerful array of soldier Commoners strenuously attacked the new Army estimates, on the ground that it is dangerous to reduce military strength. Mr. F. B. Mildmay (Coalition Unionist), who moved a nominal reduction of the vote, Field-Marshal Sir H. Wilson, General Sir C. Townshend, Sir John Davidson and Mr. Cecil Lowther were amongst the most prominent of the critics. Field-Marshal Wilson said he did not advocate an army of eighty divisions, as he was not thinking of a great European war, but how to avoid war inside the Empire There is/’ he said* “a way to save money. Leave places which do not belong to us in the grasp of those to whom they do belong, by which means we can effect a large economy.” Sir L. Worthington Evans (Secretary for War), replying, said that if we attempted to shape the Army on FieldMarshal Wilson’s basis we are faced with the problem that we can only secure recruits on higher terms, or by conscription. Mr. Mildmay’s amendment was defeated by 243 votes to 54.