A BILL ΤΟ Provide, during Twelve Months, for the Discipline A.D. 1926. and Regulation of the Army and Air Force. HEREAS the raising or keeping of a standing army within the United Kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with the consent of Parliament, is against law: 5 And whereas it is adjudged necessary by His Majesty and this present Parliament that a body of land forces should be continued for the safety of the United Kingdom and the defence of the possessions of His Majesty's Crown, and that the whole number of such forces should 10 consist of one hundred and fifty-nine thousand four hundred, including those to be employed at the depôts in the United Kingdom for the training of recruits for service at home and abroad, but exclusive of the numbers actually serving within His Majesty's Indian possessions: 15 And whereas under the Air Force (Constitution) Act, 7 & 8 Geo. 5, 1917, His Majesty is entitled to raise and maintain the c. 51. air force, and it is judged necessary that the whole number of such force should consist of thirty-five thousand five hundred, including those employed as aforesaid, but 20 exclusive of the numbers serving as aforesaid, and the provisions of the Air Force Act are due to expire at the same dates as the provisions of the Army Act: And whereas it is also judged necessary for the safety of the United Kingdom, and the defence of the 25 possessions of this realm, that a body of Royal Marine forces should be employed in His Majesty's fleet and naval service, under the direction of the Lord High A.D. 1926. Admiral of the United Kingdom, or the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid : Short title. Army Act and Air Force Act And whereas the said marine forces may frequently be quartered or be on shore, or sent to do duty or be on board transport ships or vessels, merchant ships or vessels, 5 or other ships or vessels, or they may be under other circumstances in which they will not be subject to the laws relating to the government of His Majesty's forces by sea: And whereas no man can be forejudged of life or 10 limb, or subjected in time of peace to any kind of punishment within this realm, by martial law, or in any other manner than by the judgment of his peers and according to the known and established laws of this realm; yet, nevertheless, it being requisite, for the 15 retaining all the before-mentioned forces, and other persons subject to military law or to the Air Force Act, in their duty, that an exact discipline be observed and that persons belonging to the said forces who mutiny or stir up sedition, or desert His Majesty's service, 20 or are guilty of crimes and offences to the prejudice of good order and military or air force discipline, be brought to a more exemplary and speedy punishment than the usual forms of the law will allow : And whereas the Army Act and the Air Force Act 25 will expire in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-six on the following days : (a) in Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, on the thirtieth day of April; and (b) elsewhere, whether within or without His Majesty's dominions, on the thirty-first day of July: 30 Be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent 1. This Act may be cited as the Army and Air Force (Annual) Act, 1926. 2. (1) The Army Act and the Air Force Act shall be and remain in force during the periods hereinafter 40 5 10 10 mentioned, and no longer, unless otherwise provided by A.D. 1926. Parliament (that is to say): to be in (a) Within Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel force for (b) Elsewhere, whether within or without His (2) The Army Act and the Air Force Act, while in 15 force, shall apply to persons subject to military law or to the Air Force Act, as the case may be, whether within or without His Majesty's dominions. (3) A person subject to military law or to the Air Force Act shall not be exempted from the provisions of 20 the Army Act or Air Force Act by reason only that the number of the forces for the time being in the service of His Majesty, exclusive of the marine forces, is either greater or less than the numbers herein before mentioned. 3. There shall be paid to the keeper of a victualling Prices in 25 house for the accommodation provided by him in respect of pursuance of the Army Act or the Air Force Act the billeting. prices specified in the First Schedule to this Act. 30 AMENDMENTS OF ARMY AND AIR FORCE ACTS. PART I. AMENDMENTS OF ARMY ACT APPLICABLE ALSO TO 4. In paragraph (4) of section eighteen of the Army AmendAct (which relates to disgraceful conduct), for the words ment of 35 or embezzles" there shall be substituted the words s. 18 of "embezzles or fraudulently misapplies." 66 Army Act. 1 A.D. 1926. Amend- Amend ments of Army Act. Amendment of s. 130 of Army Act. 5. In section forty-four of the Army Act (which relates to the scale of punishments by courts-martial) after paragraph (g) there shall be inserted: 66 6. (1) The following subsection shall be substituted 5 for subsection (1) of section fifty-two of the Army Act (which relates to the administration of oaths) :— (1) An oath in the prescribed form shall be administered by the prescribed person to every member of every court-martial before the com- 10 mencement of the trial.' (2) In subsection (2) of the said section after the word "writer" there shall be inserted the words or interpreter." 66 7.-(1) The following subsections shall be inserted 15 after subsection (4) of section fifty-six of the Army Act (which makes conviction of a less offence permissible on a charge of a greater offence):— "(4A) An accused charged before a courtmartial with striking may be found guilty of 20 using or offering violence. (4B) An accused charged before a courtmartial with using violence may be found guilty of offering violence. (4c) An accused charged before a before a court- 25 martial with using threatening language may be found guilty of using insubordinate language.' (2) The following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (5) of the said section: 66 (6) Where an accused is charged before a 30 court-martial with a civil offence and the charge is one upon which, if he had been tried by a civil court he might have been found guilty of any other offence, the court-martial shall have power to find him guilty of that offence." 8. The following subsection shall be substituted for subsection (2) of section one hundred and thirty of the Army Act (which contains provisions in cases of insane persons): 35 (2) Where, on the trial by court-martial of 40 a person charged with an offence, it appears that such person did the act or made the omission with |