BRITAIN’S DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1938, Page 7

BRITAIN’S DEFENCES

COUNTRY WAKENED UP BY HITLER TERRITORIAL SCHEME STRENGTHENED. ANNOUNCEMENT BY WAR MINISTER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, October 11. “At last we have done the right thing. One day, perhaps, we will erect a statue to Hitler because he has woken us up,” declares the “Daily Mail’s” military expert, Major-General J. F. C. Fuller, in endorsing the announcement of extensive strengthening and reorganisation of the Territorial Army, equalising it with the Regular Army, made yesterday by Mr L. Hore-Belisha, War Minister. Mr Hore-Belisha, in disclosing the scheme at* the City Lieutenants’ Club dinner, detailed the provision of light tank, anti-tank, light anti-aircraft regiments, and special motor-cycle battalions. He referred to the recent partial mobilisation as historic, because the forces involved had not previously been called out prior to general mobilisation. It included the dispatch of 50,000 territorials to their war stations. After a few hours they were ready for action. The personnel disclosed few defects, but much remained to be done in connection with the equipment. Anti-aircraft units, said the Minister, now totalled 46,000, which was double the number in 1937. They should be again doubled by 1939, when Britain would have five anti-aircraft divisions instead of two. The territorial field army would be given the same content and placed on the same footing as the regulars, and all shortcomings would be made good. The new scheme was tactically and economically sound. Two yeomanry brigades would remain and 10 mounted regiments would be held available as divisional cavalry reserves. “We can form nine divisions on the regular model, including three mobile and one motorised division with arms and services.” continued Mr HoreBelisha. “No existing units are being disbanded. The territorials will be an up-to-date army capable of reinforcing the regulars.” ' Major-General Fuller comments: “Our defence larder was empty last week. We could not have sent 20.000 soldiers overseas within a month, and the territorials could not have supported them within a year. _ “Herr Hitler has just told us to mind our own business. This is to be strong, and we have'at last made an important move in that direction. It is also revealed that three territorial divisions would be of a new pattern. highly mobile, and capable of moving 100 miles daily.

RECORD RECRUITING. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, October 11. The official strength of the Territorial Army—lB6,6B9 officers and men—is the highest ever recorded since ~the Great War. Recruiting figures for September—2,6lo—also constitute a record for x a month. The anti-craft strength has been increased by 686 officers and men.