OUR DEFENCES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2231, 18 August 1914, Page 6

OUR DEFENCES

DUTIES AT HOME & ABROAD • A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Asked yesterday what, would be done to fill the vacancies in the ranks of the Territorials cansed by the mobilisation of the Expeditionary Force, tho Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence) said that as far as.necessary men were being taken from the General Training Section. "I am not sure,", he added, "that at present it is necessary •to fill up all- the vacanoies. The rifle clubs are drilling and forming another lino of defence, and I think we have an ample supply. .The training of- the .Senior - Cadets will continue. "It is urgent," he went on to, say, "that tho peoplo - who remain in New Zealand should carry! on tho industries of the' Dominion. ' We are very anxious that, our young people should help us through the crisis in'this difficulty and assist in keeping .up the supply of produce, both by way of import, which means Customs revenue, and' the supply of produce for Homo consumption. .We. hope that the places of those who are going away will be filled by others who aro capable of carrying on their work, and any young man who is quick at learning would confer a benefit oil his country by engaging in country work." ' Ten Transports For The Force. , The main Expeditionary Force, he-, added, would be sent away in ten transports. They would not ei from the same port, but would rendezvous at a given place,' and would duly l leavo when the order came from the Admiralty. The Minister said he hoped to be able to get sufficient timo to visit the various concentration camps. The; Commandant had left that day for Auckland, but it was impossible for him (the Minister) to accompany him. He hoped, however, before the troops left to pay a visis to the camps. . Tho Expeditionary Force would leave New Zealand at the.end of this month; A .Quick Mobilisation. ."I would like," added' the Minister, "to express my appreciation of the manner in which tho advance force was mobilised and 6ent away. As a matter of fact; they were mobilised some days before they were able to go, but that was not our fault. We had them ready, and in an exceptionally short time. It is undoubtedly to the credit of the Defence _ Departmont that the forco was so quickly mobilised, and it is a full exposition of the perfection of tho defence scheme that wo had tho men ready to go at such short notice. It is also to the credit of tho women of New Zealand that they provided the troops with so many luxuries and necessities. They worked day and night to achieve that end, '• and they aro to be highly congratulated. I consider, that the wholo operation •is a full justification of our system of Territorial defence."