Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-03-10
BY col. HENRY j. REILLY.

Copyright 1920 by The Chicago Tribune. j
Prior to the present war. the organ
tzatlon Of the British land forces was
based on the principle that Great Britain
was primarily a sea power and, there
tore. only needed force at home to
fesast any invader and garrison for
her overseas naval bases. The only ex-
ception made to this was India, where
the pre-eminence Of land forces was
recognized
This policy ignored the fact that ia
ali her wars with her rivals she has
nad to put an army on the continent of
Europe and maintain it there. At the
present time the fact is realized that a
successful war with first class power
demands a large force which can be
used in any theater of war which cir
camstances may demand
Changed by Bosheyik Menace.
The present bolsheyik threat, coupled
with the difficult British strateeical po
sltlon in central Asia has caused the
government to tell the country through
Mr. Churchill that force for home de-
tense only will not meet existing con-
ditions
The details Of the new scheme for The
defense of the empire cannot be made
public until the army estimate is brought
before parliament some time this month
AAo"StNit iii 'HuultHiik HIS outlined
some parts of what is contemplated.
Regular Force for Old Tasks.
s before, the regular army will gar
rison overseas possessions and do all
other routine work of peace-t time. be-
SIDES fIghtlng small wars with assist
ance of Indian and colonial troops. n,
has been the case before 1t also will
have reserve made up of the men
who have served in it and also the spe-
cial reserve. This force before the
war was recruited by voluntary enlist
ment. The personnel received six
months training on enlistment, follow
ed by Il days training Il year for the /
five subsequent years. Hereafter this |
lorce Is to be called the militia.
The TerritoriaIs
In addition to the regular army. there
will be the territorial army which will ,
ne organized into II complete divisions. /
With war strength of approximately I
$4,000 men. In peace time GO per /
'ent of this number will be recruited. I
n wartime. arrangements will be such 7
hat each Of the divisions in going
lbroad will leave behind sufficient
lumber of officers and non-commission-
d officers not only TO train replace
nents but also to train any new diyi-
ions which may be needed
Any war expansion in the number of
nlts in the British army will take place
y the creation of additional territorial
visions. The pay and allowances while
training and courses of in
truction will be the same as those of
be regular army. In addition there
ill be special hount;es paid to en-
ourage the successful completion of the
arious training courses.
Enlistment will be voluntary and for
lree years for men who have served ,
t least six months during the war 1t .
i'll be for four years for all others.
Training of New Force. /
The training will consist of a total |
40 drills and of camp trimming durtns
le first year and ten drills and period :
camp training III each subsequent :.
ear. The number of days spent in !
mp each year must be eight as a mln-
lum and may not exceed maximum
Is. IN addition there will be special
lurses in various subjects 6
To protest the members of this force
ON being taken from their businesses n
,cept in case of real national emeryep. {
:, the territorial army will only be n
ohilized for actual service when n
yal proclamation has called out the I
serves and parliament has been duly
formed. 1t will only he sent overseas n
the result of an act of parliament G
the time of the emergency.