Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-05
SEA POWER NO
LONGER MAKES
BRITAIN SECURE:
BoIsheyist Threat Causes the
Government to Decide
Home Force Is Not
Sufficient.
BY COL. HENRY ]. REILLY.

BY COL. HENRY ]. REILLY.
| Prior to the present war the or
lganization OF the British land forces
was based OH the principle that
Great Britain was primarily sea
power and therefore only needed a
force at home to resist any Invader
and garrisons for her overseas naval
bases.
The only exception made to this
was, India, where the preeminence of
land forces was recognized. This
policy ignored the fact that in all
her wars with her rivals she had had
to put an army on the continent OF
Europe and maintain it there.
The trained soldier and historian
knew this because he knew that
British freedom from invasion, and
therefore her naval SUPREMACY (be-
cause once the bases Of feet are
captured by an army it is fnished), i,
depended upon no strong enemy
being allowed possession of the con-
tinental shore of the channel. They
knew that in the past Great Britain
had again and again to put an army
into what is now Belgium to keep
the east coast of the channel out of
enemy hands. They knew that in
any war with Germany it was of the
umost importance that this coast be
secure from enemy attack
!! An Idea Abandoned.
Following the idea of an army
merely being auxiliary, the regular
army was organized to garrison
overseas possessions, with a small
force at home. The territorial force
was organized for home defense.
Like Our national guard, there was
4 question as to. whether, the legal
right existed to use it outside the
country. For the defense of India
with its naturally strong frontiers, .
mixed force made up of British
regulars and native troops was re-
lied upon.
At the present time the fact IS
realized that a successful war with
a first class power demands large
force which can be used in any
| theater Of war which circumstances
I may deinapdN
| The present bolsheviki threat cou-
Piled with the difficult British,
strategical position in central Asia,
has caused the government to tell
the country through Mr.. Churchill,
that force for home defense only
will not meet existing conditions.
Britain's Revised Plan.
The details of the new scheme
for the defense of the empire can
not be made public until army esti.
mate is brought before Parliament
some time this month. However,
Mr.. Churchill has outlined some
parts of what is contemplated.
AS before, the regular army will
garrison overseas possessions and do
time, besides fighting small wars
all other routine work of peace
with the assistance of Indian and
colonial troops, as has been the case
before. 1t also will have a reserve
made up of the men who have
served in it and also the special
reserve. This force before the war
was recruited by voluntary enlist
ment. The personnel received six
months training, on enlistment, fol-
lowed by 81 days training year
| for the five subsequent years. Here
after this force is to be called the
militia.
Big Territorial Army.
In addition to the regular army
there will be the territorial army
which will be completely self-con.
tanned. 1t will be organized into IA
Icomplete divisions, with a wat
strength of approximately 345, 1000
In peace time but 90 per cent Of this
number will be recruited. In time
of war arrangements will be such
that each of these divisions on 20.
ling abroad will leave behind a suffi.
cient number of officers and non.
commissioned officers not only tc
train requirements but also to train
lany new divisions which, may be
lneeded. .
| Any war expansion in the number
| of units in the British army will take
place by the creation Of additional
territorial divisions. The pay and
allowances while undergoing train.
ing and courses Of instruction viii
be the same as those of the regular
army. In addition there will be spe.
cial bounties paid to encourage the
| successful completion OF the various
training courses.
| Enlistment Voluntary.
l Enlistment will be voluntary and
| for three years for men who have
| served at least six months during
| the war. 1t will be for four years
tor all others.
4 The training will consist OF tota
| OF 40 drills and of camp training
| during the first year and ten drills
and periods OF camp training in each
! subsequent year. The number oi
| days spent in camp each year mus,
be eight as a minimum and may moi
exceed a maximum of Is. In addi.
ton there will be special courses ir
various subjects.
i To protect the members of this
/ force from being taken from their
4 businesses, except ir case of.real ma.
tional emergency, the territorial
afIny will only be modified for act.
nal service when a royal proclama,
Y tion has called out the reserve and
1parliament has been duly informed
at will only be sent overseas as the