BRITISH EMPIRE (continued).

Transcription

1 BRITISH EMPIRE (continued). IRISH FREE STATE GENERAL Area ,873 sq. km. Population (1926).2,971,992 Per sq. km Length of railway lines (I926). 4,302 km. Army. A SUPREME MILITARY AUTHORITY AND ITS ORGANS I. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. The Department of Defence comprises the administration and business of the raising, training, organisation, maintenance, equipment, management, discipline, regulation and control of the Military Defence Forces of Saorstdt Eireann ; the Minister for Defence is assisted by a Council of Defence. 2. COUNCIL OF. DEFENCE. The Council of Defence assists the Minister for Defence in the administration of the business of the Department of Defence, but without derogating from the responsibility of the Minister for Defence to the Ddil for all the administration and business of the Department of Defence and for the exercise and performance of all the powers, duties and functions connected therewith. The Council of Defence consists of the following members, namely, the Minister for Defence, who (under the style of " Commander-in-Chief ") is the Chairman of the Council of Defence, and four other members, amongst whom are distributed the principal divisions or branches of the business of the Council of Defence, that is to say, a civil member being a member of Ddil Eireann who is responsible to the Minister for Defence for the finance of the Military Defence Forces and for so much of the other business of the Council of Defence as may be from time to time assigned to him by the Minister for Defence and who acts as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, and three military members being commissioned members of the said Defence Forces who are the Chief of Staff, the

2 IRISH FREE STATE 243 Adjutant-General and the Quartermaster-General and are respectively responsible to the Minister for Defence for the administration of so relating much of to the business the raising, training, organisation, disposition, personnel, equipment, supply, armament, management, discipline, control the Defence and maintenance Forces as shall of be from time to time them assigned by the to them Minister or any for of Defence. B. MILITARY DISTRICTS The Irish Free State is divided into four military districts, namely (r) the Western Command ; (2) the Southern Command ; (3) the Eastern Command; (4) the Curragh Training Camp. Each military is sub-divided district into a certain number of brigade areas. There are present at nine brigade areas. Each military district and each brigade area has its own headquarters. The Curragh Training Camp is organised as follows : headquarters, an officers' school of instruction, a non-commissioned officers' school of instruction, and a reception and training depot. C. ARMS AND SERVICES Infantry. The infantry arm consists of 27 battalions. Each battalion comprises headquarters, a headquarters company and 4 other companies. Armoured-car Corps. The armoured-car corps comprises : headquarters and four companies. Artillery. The artillery corps comprises: headquarters and two battalions. Engineers. The army corps of engineers comprises: a field training depot, Headquarters' a Maintenance Company, a Western Command Maintenance Company, a Southern Command Maintenance Company, an Eastern Command Maintenance Camp Company. Company and a Curragh Training Air Force. The army air corps comprises: headquarters and I squadron. Medical Services. The army medical service-s comprise : headquarters, a training depot, St. Bricin's hospital, 3 companies corresponding to commands, the 3 a Curragh Training Camp company, and a Medical Board. Military Police. The military police corps comprises: headquarters, 5 companies and 4 military detention barracks.

3 244 BRITISH EMPIRE Schools. The Irish Military College; The Officers' School of Instruction at the Curragh; The N.C.O.s' School of Instruction at the Curragh; The Army School of Music. Signal Corps. The army signal corps comprises: headquarters, a headquarters company, 3 companies corresponding to the 3 commands, and a Curragh Training Camp company. Army Transport Corps. The army transport corps comprises: headquarters, a headquarters company, a mechanical-transport depot, a horse-transport depot, 3 companies corresponding to the 3 commands, 9 brigade companies and a Curragh Training Camp company. D. SYSTEM OF RECRUITING The system of recruiting is based on the principle of voluntary enlistment; the maximum term for which a person may voluntarily enlist is 12 years, and the recruit must have attained the age of i8 at the time of enlistment. Terms of Enlistment. The terms of enlistment for the various Corps of the Forces are as follows : The Infantry Arm. i month, 3 months, 6 months, i year or 3 years in Army Service and 6 years in the Reserve. All other Corps. i month, 3 months, 6 months, or 5 years in Army Service and 7 years in the Reserve. The Minister may vary the conditions of service so as to permit a soldier of the Forces either: (a) to enter the Reserve at once for the unexpired residue of the term of his original enlistment; or (b) to extend his army service for all or any part of the 'unexpired residue of such term; or (c) to extend the term of his original enlistment up to the period of 12 years or any shorter period. The Minister may also by special regulations vary the conditions of service so as to permit a man in the Reserve to re-enter upon army service for all or any part of the unexpired residue of the term of his original enlistment or for any period of time, not exceeding 12 years in the whole, from the date of his original enlistment. Re-engagement and Prolongation of Service. A soldier of the Forces, if in army service, may, on the expiration of 9 years from the date of his original enlistment, be re-engaged for such further period of army service as will make up a total period of 21 years of army service ; he may, on the expiration of the total period of 21 years' service, continue to serve in the Forces ;

4 IRISH FREE STATE 245 nevertheless, he shall be entitled to claim his discharge at the expiration of any period of 3 months. A non-commissioned officer of the Forces who extends his army service for the unexpired residue of his original term of enlistment is also entitled to be re-engaged. Reserve. Every soldier of the Forces upon the completion of the period of his army service, if shorter than the term of his original enlistment, is transferred to the Reserve. The men belonging to the Reserve may be called out for periods of training not exceeding in any one year 30 days. The men belonging to the Reserve may be called out on permanent service in case of imminent national danger; they may not, however, be required to serve for a period exceeding in the whole the unexpired remainder of their term of service in the Reserve and any further period not exceeding 12 months. Reserve of Officers. The Reserve of Officers consists of Officers of the Forces who have retired therefrom and who are liable to be recalled to service in the Forces. An Officer of the Forces is on retirement eligible for inclusion in the Reserve of Officers. An Officer of the Reserve is liable to be called up : (i) for annual training at such times and at such place and for such periods as he may be ordered, not exceeding in any one year thirty days ; (ii) in aid of the civil power ; (iii) for permanent service when the Reserve is called out, until his services are no longer required. When called up, an Officer of the Reserve is liable to serve in any unit. An Officer of the Reserve shall not quit the Saorst~t for a period exceeding two consecutive months in any full year of service on the Reserve, without the special permission of the Minister for Defence. Cadres. i. Appointment. On the expiration of a period of 5 years from the date of the establishment of a military college under the Act, preference in appointment to commissioned rank in the Forces is to be given as far as possible to graduates of that college. Until the expiry of the period of 5 years after the establishment of a military college, the following persons will be eligible for appointment to commissioned rank in the Forces : (a) citizens of the Irish Free State; (b) officers and men serving at the time of the passing of the Act in the National Forces; (c) such other persons as may be approved of by the Minister. The Minister may order such citizens to undergo such courses of instruction and pass such qualifying tests as may be prescribed.

5 246 BRITISH EMPIRE 2. Promotion. Normally the promotions of officers up to and inclusive of the rank of Major are based on order of seniority, but an officer who has displayed marked ability, efficiency and zeal, and whose early promotion is in the interests of the Service, may at any time be promoted irrespective of his position as regards seniority in his rank, provided however that no officer be promoted to two substantive ranks within any one period of two years. All promotions of Majors and higher ranks are made by selection. The normal qualifying periods for eligibility for promotion to the next higher rank are as follows : From Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant... ) Lieutenant to Captain... 4 )) Captain to Commandant years ) Commandant to Major ))» Major to Colonel > E. GARDA SIOCHANA The Garda Siochana became in I925 amalgamated with the Dublin Metropolitan Police forming now one force with the latter. It consists of such officers and men as the Executive Council from time to time determines. The Executive Council also appoints the Commissioner of the Garda Siochana. Maximum establishment: I92 officers and 6,454 men. F. BUDGETARY EFFECTIVES I927-I928. A. Officers: Lieut.-General... i Major-Generals... 7 Colonels Majors Commandants Captains... 3I 9 Lieutenants nd Lieutenants Total Officers B. Other Ranks ,922 Total, General... 12,755

6 G. SUMMARY OF TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT FOR ARMY y ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~, r C3. oo. c -C -0 M_ CZU U U Gena 0, Hdq,, 0~~~~~~~~~~~ General Headquarters I I 1I I Three Command H.Qs i I Nine Brigade Area H.Qs i Twenty-Seven CurahTraiin Comamp Inf. H... Batts i 6-27 i62 I89 o ,052 O, , ,o068 Curragh Training Camp..-. I I Army Corps of Engineers : (a) Field ( ) ie d U 32 II 43 60o (b) Bck. Maintenance. - - i 6 i Io 6io Io o ~ Artillery 319 Corps I I i I Armoured-car Corps I 1 I 5 I o 1I9 4I I46 Army 187 Air Corps ~Army.. Air.. Corps.-... ~ - - I 1 i I6 94 i8 I33 I55 Army Signal Corps I I Military Police Corps... I I Io Army Medical Services I oo Army School of Music. I I Army Transport Corps- - I ,I03 1,142 Extra Units or Staffs II Military College...- I Total ' IIo I~o8I 3,237 14,650 17,887 18,968 3,237 ~7,87 I465o ~ 8,96

7 248 BRITISH EMPIRE IL Budget Expenditure on National Defence. A. NOTES ON BUDGET PROCEDURE. i. The Irish Free State came into existence by virtue of the Treaty of London, dated December 6th, By that Treaty the Free State was to have the same status in the British Empire as that enjoyed by the self-governing colonies - Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. With the ratification of the Treaty by the British Parliament and by Ddil Eireann, arrangements were made by the Provisional Government to take over the financial administration of the country, and the separate Exchequer of the new Government was set up in Dublin towards the beginning of the financial year The financial year covers the period April ist-march 3Ist. 3. The Expenditure Budget is divided into three parts : Central Fund Services, Supply Services and Capital Issues. The second, Supply Services, is the main votable part of the budget, and in it defence expenditure is included. The estimates for the Public Services show both gross and net appropriations. 4. In the estimates of defence expenditure the Air Service is not shown as a separate item, but is incorporated in the major heading " Army ". The Free State has no Navy. B. BUDGET EXPENDITURE ON NATIONAL DEFENCE-. I. Summary of Defence Expenditure. TABLE I I Appropriation' Accounts Revised Estimates riga Estimates,'s (ooo's omitted). I. Army (gross)... 2,888 2,533 2,264 1,836 II. Army Pensions (gross) Total ,024 2,963 2,560 2,092 Defence Expenditure Index.... oo Index Number of Cost of Living: I914 = ioo I = oo... ioo Index of Defence Expenditure reduced to the price level... 00oo io Average, April and July NOTES. - i. The figures above represent gross expenditure. The appropriations-in-aid on the Army vote, realised or estimated, are as follows: I Realised Estimated L's (ooo's omitted) The summary includes expenditure on the Air Force (included in Army Estimates) and on the non-effective services, but does not include the

8 IRISH FREE STATE 249 estimated cost of various services rendered free to the Defence Department by other departments. Taking. these services into account, the total expenditure on defence is estimated as follows: I Gross estimate (including pensions) as above.... 2,963, ,974 2,133,761 Rates... 32,250 37,215 _ 35,I00 Office accommodation , , ,I95 Printing... 6,500 1,640 1,6oo Stationery and office supplies... 3,400 4,200 4,000 Post Office.... 5,067 5,360 6,i6o Total... 3,I30, ,674,953 2,285,816 II. Analysis of Defence Expenditure: Army I TABLE 2 Appro- Revised Budget priation t es Esti- Accounts Estimates T. Army: 's (ooo's omitted). Pay of Officers, N.C.O's and men of the Regular Army... 1,236 Military training abroad for specially I,o66 i,oo6 838 selected officers Gratuities to officers on retirement Marriage allowances Wages of civilians attached to units... II Pay, etc., of clergymen Io 8 7 Pay of Medical Services Medicines and instruments I Lodging and subsistence allowance Transport of troops Conveyance of stores... I Mechanical transport Provisions and allowances in lieu Petrols and oils II Clothing and equipment I I24 ii6 83 Animals and forage General stores War stores i 47 Engineer stores o 6 Barrack maintenance and minor works Military lands Compensation for damage Fuel, light and water Barrack services Insurance... i i Incidental services.. 14 i6 6-6 Telegrams and telephones Hospital treatment of ex-soldiers... - I- Army Athletic Association Office of Minister of Defence, etc Travelling, etc., of office inspection staff I Army Reserve... Vessels Balances irrecoverable... Total... 2,888 2,533 2,264 1,836 II. Army Pensions Grand Total... 3,024 2,963 2,560 2,092

9 250 BRITISH EMPIRE Army Pensions. The provision in this vote is for the payment of military service pensions under the Military Service Pensions Act, I924, to certain members and former members of the national forces and the defence forces and for the payment of wound pensions. Persons who joined the Army after April ist, 1922, and who were subsequently discharged were granted pensions under the Act for the period from April ist, The matter,however, is still the subject of correspondence with the Department of Finance and pending a decision the payments made on these awards are being charged to a suspense account. Vessels. Another special subhead entitled " Vessels " was opened this year under the authority of the Department of Finance to bear charges in respect of certain liabilities incurred during previous years.