The military defence of this country and the offensive action
high must accompany it depend (a) on trained fighting men, d (2) on equipment. In view of the possibility of mass track on the country at any time the public is anxious to ow how we stand, and it is well that we should have been ffi,ially informed. First there are the nine B.E.F. divisions hose personnel was brought back from Dunkirk—seasoned idlers fit to be used for any purpose. They have been re- ganised as divisions, and their supply of equipment is now ell advanced. All the other divisions at home have been rought up to full strength. Then there are splendid Canadian, ustralian and New Zealand contingents ; Polish forces which ave more than once been in action ; and Czechs, Dutch and Torwegians. Holding battalions are being maintained, and new attalions constantly created, and since the beginning of last onth recruits have been taken in at the rate of 7,000 a day. he training centres are rapidly turning out soldiers who know heir job. The Local Defence Volunteers, now numbering ore than a million, are valuable for the services they are ap- ointed to render, and also by releasing trained soldiers for her duties. The trained troops can be used to the utmost t home in proportion as they need not be called away to the ess essential tasks. Though much leeway has yet to be made p before we can provide single-handed an Army on the Conti- ental scale, we have far more trained forces ready for action at omd than we have ever had before—even in the last war.
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