DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 12

DEFENCE NOTES.

(Br Echelon.)

TRAINING THE ARMY. AN IMPORTANT MEMORANDUM. AFFECTING OUR VOLUNTEERS. Volunteers throughout Now Zealand will bo directly affccted by a memorandum of considerable importance- which has been issued by tho Imperial General Staff with reference to tho training of tho forces at Homo and in tho British dominions oversea. Tho principles in this memorandum will bemado manifest at the New Zealand Easter training camps of 1910, if not during those will J » cur I ro ' l . fc .year. These principles will not revolutionise, all bygone theories of -T 6 ' Hfc W1 " leave beliind much that has been held Baered in tho past. It is pointed out that tho British forces may bo called upon to face hostile forces to whom they arc inferior, and, consequently, the development of exceptional mobility, the ability to manoeuvre for position, tho fostering of initiative, and the oftensive spirit in battle, must bo regarded as the cardinal features of army training. This is old, old doctrine in tho main, but, in tho light or Mr. Haldano's recent announcements with regard to tho Imperial General Staff, of significance. Especially significant is it or the fading of some of tho old, roaring, assertive, and fatuous "lessons of the Boer ¥< ar ' ~^?.^ oer l y ar taught no new lesson. Even mobility" is as old as tho Greeks, fortunately, Japanese war brought English military opinion back to tho old and sound, fundamentals, and it also steadied English public opinion.

Objects of the Memorandum. The memorandum referred to has been prepared under instructions from the Chief of the General Staff with tho following objects:— (1) To draw attention to regulations affecting training about to be published, modifying existing regulations; , (2) To review the progress of training during recent years, to note certain tendencios as revealed at etc., and to endeavour to influence training in certain desired directions. With regard to Field Service Regulations it has been decided to republish tho manual enVtled "Combined Training" in three parts, viz: Field Service Regulations, Part I.— "Operations," and Part ll.—"Organisation and Administration," and "Training and Manoeuvre Regulations." These regulations definitely lay down the system of organisation and training for tho army in order to fit it for the task it may bo called upon to perform in war. The "Skeleton" Enemy. References to tho "skeleton" enemy at tho forthconiing Eastor field operations of the Wellington military forces at Woodville have already in TnE Dominion. With regard to these, according to the memorandum :—

_ "Tactical exercises'? are defined as operations -against a skeleton force in which the initiative of tho ■ commanders is limited. ''Manoeuvres" are defined as operations between opposing forces or a skeleton force in which tho commanders aro allowed freedom. In recent yoars the training of tho army at Home has been largely confincd to tactical exorcises, and though most remarkable results have been obtained, there was a number of faults' For instance, operations have been initiated from a rendezvousi at which tho 'troops assembled and proceeded to attack or occupy, a position. Tho "battle of encounter" has heen too much neglected, and the troops have not always received the training in reconnaissance, protection on the march, tho use of advanced guards and rapid deployment from tho lino of march which alone can develop tho power to manoeuvre with skill.

[ Umgtres. . ' ' Now regulations have also been drafted with regard to the duties and responsibilities of umpires. In the-old-system, defects arose from the powors conferred upon umpires to control tho operations; and prevent what were considered to be unreal situations. The essence of the new regulations is that the control of the troops should rest as far as possible in tho hands of their commanders. Umpires will seldom, thereforo, interfere with the movements,' but will oxerciso such control as is legitimate, by convoying information to officers in command, as to the effect of their own, and the enemy's fire, and by giving decisions when troops cpme into contact. "First Walk, Then Run." "It is not certain," states tho memorandum, "that in some cases recently we have riot been, open to the reproach of attempting to teach _ officers to run beforo they can walk, that is, to command divisions and brigades before they can command battalions and companies. Staff tours proper should be reserved for the instruction of staff and departmental officers and senior officers, and strategical and tactical principles ought not to be the only object of theso exercises. An army moves upon its_ belly, and the study of problems of organisation and administration aro of equal importance. Tho training of junior regimental officers is intended to rely largely in a system of short reritnentnl tours of tactical exercises which will be described ir, 'Training and Manoeuvre' regulations. Finally, on this point, it must be recognised that there aro many valuable officers whose bent is not towards indoor study and hooks, while there are othors who have a natural inclination in this direction. It should therefore bo the endeavour of those charged with the theoretical training of officers to develop the mind- of each in a direction which is likely to be most profitable to the service." Tho Artillery. Tho question of direct and indirect firo, continues the memorandum, is still with tis, and a solution as to which is tho better Id not likely to bo arrived at for some time to come. Until the artillery has still further developed its. power of dealing with movjng targets by indirect fire without loss of time, tho only possible course to take is to insist that positions for indirect or direct firo must continue to bo taken up in accordance with tho tactics.] situation. As to artillery firing at night, some useful experience has been gained during 1908. In siege operations sucli fire, in conjunction with searchlights, will undoubtedly bo made use of in future wars, and the practice should continue'to receive attention. In field operations artillery firo by night will probably also be used in the defence of positions either with or without lights, and should also be studied. Tho uso of artillery fire by night in support of an attack is an open question for many reasons that will readily occur. Still, circumstances mav ariso when a night bombardment may facilitate tho delivery of a night assault, and tho artillery should continuo their training to meet such an emergency. Musketry. The new courses of musketry training havo been designed with regard to such conditions as—invisibility of target—effect of hostile firo, necessitating the use of cover combined with a rapid aim (snap-shooting' and—the ability to bring a rapid and woilaimcd fire upon the enemy for short periods —tho necessity for reliance on collective five at ranges exceeding 000 yards. Tho memorandum concludes with a rcfcrenco to maehino gun training: "Sufficient importance has not been attached, nor sufficient attention paid, to i training in machine gun practice." Definite instructions with resard fn this will shortly bo issued. The second instalment of Captain Richardson's article, " How to mako the Training of an Infantry Company moro Interesting and Effective," is hold over this week in order to give spaco to tlio abuvo important memorandum issued by the British General Staff with regard to tho general principles of army training to be adopted throughout tho Empire.