The new Regular Army is to follow the admirable lines
laid down by Lord Haldane ; that is, it is to rely upon efficiency rather than upon size. A demand had been made for a mechanical Army. Lord Fisher wanted us to scrap the Army and Navy and rely on the Air Force and a submarine fleet. This, Mr. Churchill said, he was perfectly prepared for—in time. But it was too soon. Much garrison and other work at present done by the Army could not be carried out by a purely air force. He went on to speak .of the recent development of tanks. Tanks with springs were being made which could travel at twenty miles an hour across country. " Thousands of miles had been run without any appreciable wear and tear." The new tanks did not damage roads, and a tank had been produced specially adapted for use in the tropics with an engine which "exercised a refrigerating effect" on the interior of the machine. On the other hand, methods of anti-tank warfare had also definitely advanced, and the whole subject wasin an experimental stage. " It would be most unwise to commit ourselves to a large programme of tank construction until definite conclusions could be reached." The tactical aspect of these weapons was also being examined. " In connexion with this, arrangements were being made for the conduct of a number of tactical experiments in the co- operation of cavalry, infantry, and tanks."
Previous page
