HOME GUARD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 120, 23 June 1941, Page 2

HOME GUARD

MORE RECRUITS REQUIRED IMPROVED TRAINING The Heme Guard in rccent months has become a source o"f much inteiest to a large proportion of the population of the Empire. . It is a new force which has been created because of methods of invasi.on used b3r the enemy in the present Avar. It supplements the otheir armed forces by doing work which no other body can do, and can be described as a tactical necessity arising from the process of what Hitler described as "total war." The primary object of the Home Guard is to have available an organised body of men trained to offer stout re-r-sstancc in every district and to meet any military emergency until trained troops can be brought up. The Home Guard in New Zealand has been formed on a "volunteer" basis. In many districts it lias received a very strong and immediate support; in others it is building up more slowly. In this district the outer areas have responded remarkably. The local Home Guard force has been i,n existence foi somei months and was one of the earliest to be formed in this country. There is a place for every man according to age, health, etc. Men who have been considering offering their services in some way should do so at the earliest opportunity. The sacrifice of time and effort is surely comparatively small. All hope that an "emergency" may never arise but many realise the need "to be prepared." Organisation and training are essential. The untrained man is a handicap in time of emergency.