A large House seemed strangely hostile to Mr. Hore- Belisha,
when he began his speech on the Army Estimates on Wednesday. The first part, which dealt with high strategy, he took at too fast a pace for the House fully to comprehend. The atmosphere thawed somewhat when, later, he descended to detail and spoke more slowly. It was a pity that he read his speech as, so much of it being ex- planatory, one had the impression that he would be thrown out of his stride had there been many interruptions. Mr. Churchill's interjections, as it was, appeared to upset him. The House remains a trifle sceptical as to the extent of the Army's rearmament ; and certainly some of the proposed reorganisation had more the appearance of a divisional rather than an additional character. Members feel that, time being the essence of any defence contract these days, the result of much of Mr. Hore-Belisha's efforts will either come too late, or be unnecessary in calmer times.
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