PRO PATRIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 570, 27 July 1909, Page 6

PRO PATRIA.

THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND. A CITIZEN ARMY. (By Echelon.) Granted we need defonco, and need it badly, the next thing wanted is ono shall- come forward, with a clean-cut, definite' echeme—a simple one. if possible — touching State military trainings. Should that tiaining have merely local or widoly Imporml aims? What lines should it take? What should it cost? In obtaining it, liqw f«r should the ordinary rights of tho individual bo;touched? How far left aloneP All this, arid more, formed the subject of an address which was delivered by Captain G. S. Richardson, Chief Instructor of Artillery, at the Artillery Officers' Club last evening, and it was of so comprehensive; a character'that it has been found ', necessary,- in order to give.lt sufficient publicity, to separato it into a series of articles, of which.this is tho first. Captain Richardson's suggested organisation of the New Zealand Army' of Defence is as follows:-*- ■:■ .- ' .'■""'.

First Lino: National Guard. Second Line:, Reserve to National Guard; Third Line: Special Reserve. . i. / ' The first line would consist of all meD between the ages' of 18 and 21, who. reside dt,the': larger towns, or on tho'main railway, routes, and-after serving three years would be transferred to the Second Line,_ or Reserve. The. Second; Lino would comprise all men who had served three years in the First Line. • Married* men in the Second Line* might, at ■,their/ own request, be transferred to the Third Line;•.:;The Third Line would consist of .all between ; the ages of 18 and 24 (other than mounted units), who live in; the., back-blocks, or away from' the main line of.communications, and who would therefore be : - unable ;to attend- drills or receive the same amount of instruction as men iof the 'First Line'. / ... : - • .

On reaching the ago of 18 every male: would, report himself to the nearest military registrar, and be allotted to that branch of the service for which he is considered to be most suited. Claims for exemption,' or postponement of service, to be considered by a-local military' board. The following table shows the number of males reaching, the age of 18 annually, and the probable number that would bo trained after, sis-years, by which time the schemo will be in full operation:—. ..-...' ■ -..■-.

.' ........; : ;.'; , ' 8,837 ', ', .7,960:. 23,610... 23,610 The total number of.all;three lines:of defence at-.the. end-of, six- years' would'therefore !be '47,220 ■ men. 'The.. following table ■shows approximately in what line the. above numbers .would be organised during tho* first sis years, if-national vservice were.instituted in,.say, 1910.:— ; .'■, •:. :■■■ ;'/ - ' •-.. ;:

*This is the year the Anglo-Japanese Alliance terminates. ' ,•' ■..■..■. .■_ It is not proposed -to over exceed.' this number under,arms in peace time, otherwise the force ;'w - ould grow, to an unwieldy size, causing greater^coniplicatidns,and difficulties in ' training,. organisation, and administration, 'in addition, to the /greater -probability of interfering with .trade and commerce.. After serving Bis years "either in : the : ; First and iSedond Lines; or..in thoThifd'Ljne, 1 men,would be disehargedj,.thus .permittLng-the/estab-' lishmerit.to remain.stationary.'at 18,000 for the First Line; 18,000 for'the Second Line: and 11,460.f0r the: Third Line. Officers and N.Q.O's. would bo retained l if possible and retired only under,an age ilimit. . The question of discharged 'men' being alloweH' to retain their rifles v and form rifle clubs would be a mktter 'for'consideration.' The number of men- : at the end • of;' twelve years,.'apart from ;: any.-augmentation; from, tho present volunteer force, 'would bo, , 94 ; 440,"in 24' years 188,880,' and!in 30 years every-man. between-the agea.'of 18.and 48 would be trained to arms,- giving us, practically an armed nation, with an available force.of 200,000' men.■. '■ ■■■'■■-.. .',■■••.,■■■ ';.■■' "..- : :.- '.(To be continued.), ':'■"■'•.■.■ .

'';•-■;■ ■-."., : •' £ Tntal trained ■■'. • ■' - : ° "'.' ■, . '■• ' B2 «t.end of.six ;: . ■.'; -.■.- ;-.■,.v.-.'g ' ■ 'years. ' ■ ■■-".. ■;.-■■■." ' ■•■■'■■.'■■'■■"•9"b« > ; ; : , , •. 'S ■ •; : .Di S trict.. V ; s ||, ; |S7,;3-;. :^; Auckland:'..;........' 2,090. 1,900 ' -5,700 ' 5.700 ■Taranakl.;.......... ■ iW \ 400 1,200 • 1,200 Hawke's Bay ..... 423 :. -400 ."1,200 : -1,200 Wellington ;.....:. 1,722' - 1,600 . 4,500 ; 4, f 5Q0 j Marlboroiigh ; :.,.. ■ 151 ' '130 . 420- ' 420' Nelson' ;: 424 ', •. 380;';, 1,140V 1,140 Westland 126 ,-' 100 ; 300■•-■■ 300' Canterbury ..„.;;.. 1,629 ; "1,450 '4,350. 4,350 Otago ;.....>......... 1,828 • ' 1,600 . 4,800 4,800

- -X-- '■■-:■ '•, First ■"Second- Third ' ]■■. '':■'■, ; .V-'I - , Tear.. -.Link. .->. Liiie. "Line. , Total. ' •■- ' ..:'■/■ 1910 >•' 6,000 ■ ■ 7,960'- '■■• ' .'•■'-■.. 1911, ■•'12,00&;.' 15,920 ■ ; ■ " :,:■■.. 1912; 18,000/ ; '5,580-'.23,580' . ■■' ■'.•: 1913 . 18,000 •: 6,000 7,540 31i5M ••' 1914 13,000 .' 12,000.. 9,500 .39,500 *1915 18,000 18,000 ,-11,460 47,460