LOCAL TRAINING CAMPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2597, 20 October 1915, Page 9

LOCAL TRAINING CAMPS

CONSIDERED IMPRACTICABLE. (By TeleffrftDh.—FrfiSß Association.) Dunedin, October 19. Interviewed by a _"Star" representative, tlie Hon. James' Allen (Minister of Defence) said: "If every malt realises tho splendid achievements of New Zealand's soldiers at Gallipoli during the past seven months, I feel confident of tlie future as regards tho Dominion's determination to honour our pledge to the Mother Country. Our army has proved its mettle in the most arduous circumstanccs, and its record should bo an inspiration to every man _ to measure , his duty with- conscientious thoroughness and perform it well with cheorfuL willingness. The system of raising, equipping, and training tlio men has proved so successful so far that I think every possible effort should _ bo made to maintain it at equal effectiveness. We have sent 28,000 men to the front, all thoroughly equipped and efficiently trained, and there has not bceii a single break in the prescribed supply of reinforcements at regular periods. And there are 12,000 men in training. Tho past record has been m every way splendid, and it can be maintained if tlio people Tealiso tho necessity for accepting their great duty to the Empire. What is required is constant and persistent recruiting in order to insure an adequate supply of men fcr t'ho reinforcements, so that the splendid work of the Expeditionary Force may be maintained at the highest standard of effectiveness. That is tho common aim,"

The Minister does not consider _it practicable to establish local training j camps. It would he impossible to j achieve the same measure of efficiency which has marked tho training of our soldiers at Trentham. The training staff has been working throughout at the highest point of pressure; the ply of experienced officers for training purposes is limited. Tlie Imperial authorities have been asked to lend New Zealand seven or nine experienced Army officers, who, although incapacitated for active service, would be able to assist in the training of. recruits. An encouraging reply lias been received, there are good prospects of several military instructors coining to New Zealand. Tlie appointment if staff officers for the New Zealand Rifle Brigade lias not yet been finally determined, but it is almost certain that Colonel V. S. Snwtlie, a D.C.0., formerly O.C. Otngo, and later of the Canterhurv Military District, will be given a high cv.inmaiid, and will go to the front with tlie brigade. Colonel Smytlie arrived at Auckland from London yesterday. The members of (lie special tunnelling company, now training at Auckland, are far above the prescribed strength, and will leave for the Old Country in about six weeks' time. With in) fewer than about five months' reinforcements over the strength, this means that men for the reinforcements will not bo required for five months. Tlio new company will be attached to the Royal Engineers—an honourable prsitioii—and will probably servo in Europe. : •