"The Times" Reveals Notable Progress in Defence Preparation London, July 4.
Britain's territorial field army has doubled in numerical strength since April 1, "The Times" reports today in giving figures regarding the British Army. The present strength of the "Terriers" is now 300,000 men.
The paper says that before next spring 200,000 men of the new militia will either be trained or in process of training, and reminds its readers of the fact that data on the regular army do not include the 50,000 men at present serving in India and Burma. The supplementary budget, moreover, covered only fractions of the 100,000 men serving with antiaircraft divisions of the territorial army.
Anti-aircraft defence, "The Times" points out, is being kept in permanent readiness for a sudden air attack, while the Navy is also held in a state of extreme vigilance.
In an editorial, the paper discusses the argument that an increase in the numerical strength of the armed forces does not necessarily mean an increase in effective strength, but declares that the present state of Britain's armaments is such as to furnish no cause for alarm. Production of war industries had been almost doubled within the past twelve months, while the Secretary for War, Mr. Leslie Here-Belisha, was able to announce a week ago that all regular units were well-equipped.
There existed, however, a certain shortage of territorial uniforms, due to the increase of the force by 140,000 men, "The Times" declares—Trans-
Ocean.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.