Standing Army Reduced: Ter: ritorial Force Recruiting London, Jan. 14.
Big changes in the Irish Free State Army are to take place. AS foreshadowed by President Cosgrave some time azo, the Government has hhow decided on the recruitment. of a territorial force with a view to cutting down the standing army to the lowest possible minimum. Four thousand men between the ages of 18 and 34 are called on to. join immediately the new force, which is styled ""B" Class Reserve." They will be required to serve from one to three months in the Army and six years in the Reserve, Although only 4,000 recruits are asked for at once, it is expected that within a few months double treble this number will join the new force.
Tt ig hoped gradually to reduce the. standing army to a small standard. body of men composed principally of instructors and first lass troops.
In the first year of its existence, during the civil war, the Army of the Free State cost £10,000,000. This has been reduced gradually until this year, when the estimated expenditure was £2,000,000. It la animated that the new scheme will effect a further reduction of £1,500, 000.—British" wireless through.
Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.