DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 287, 28 August 1920, Page 8

DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

WEAKNESSES IN PRESENT

SYSTEM

WHAT AN EXPERT THINKS

VALUE OF CONCENTRATION CAMPS An interesting address dealing with the defence of New Zealand was ■ delivered by Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. Sleemnn (Director of Military Training) at tho Wellington Garrison OlKecrs' Club last nislit. ' "It is often argued by tho critics ot defence that tho existing system, largely based upon tho advico of Lord Kll shone* and Sir lan Hamilton,, has been unsuccessful," said Colonel Sleeman. "It u true that tho existing system of Terrltorinl training has not produced efficient results, but. in making this statement, it must be remembered that this sciiomn oan bo likened to a ferry steamer which lias been called upon to perform tho diife of a Droadnouglvt since 191!, at whioh period it wns in its Infancy. Duting tlio Great Wftr. its best ofheers, n.c.o.'s, and men were withdrawn from its ranks for Expeditionary Force etr vice, and its rifles and instructional equipment wero taken away for tho same purpose. Training in New Zealand wtu reduced every year of tho Great War owing to tho hfirdship'lmpoEfid upon employers by tho continuance of defence training, and since tho war the Defonco Forces have been woefully short of officers, n.c.o.'s, riilea, equipment, tents, vohiclM, and evory other necessity for efficiency. Further, it must bo remembered that exporienco lias taught that tho training of country Territorials on tho old system is improduotivo of satisfactory results when compared with tho expenditure involved. This, indeed, is the outstanding fault of tho existing scheme. To ask a Defonco instructor to gain military efliciency by attending spasmodio parades scattered all over a district is synonymous with asking a schoolmaster to obtain scholastic efficiency by disponing with centralised schools and dispersing his instruction ove? nnmoroira sniitll centres at which his pupils attend at intermittent intervals. Modern military training, consists of a multiplicity of subjects, in which drill and musketry form ft small part only Consequently, the training of country Territorials lias practically ceased fof three years, no camps having been he d during the samo period, and both these concessions have besn roado in an en* deavour to assist the employer at a sacrifice of defence efficiency. In those circumstances, it is wrong to say that tho existing schema lins proved useless. Liko all experiments, the result of exporienco has disclosed certain weaknesses in the 1911 Defence system, For oxamplo, i was found that reinforcements for tho Expeditionary Force could. not to obtained direct from Tern tonal iimH ts but had first to bo sent into centralised camps for periods of training, varying from four months upwards, before •emWlan, for active eervico, I'o some this would suggest that the linl % H d failed, but this was not the case. Fir»t, in 1914, they had not had time to arrive nt higher training; secondly, had they been mobilised in unit enmps and been provided with tho necessary instructors and equipment, they coull have wvidd the reinforcements required. Ih s sys tem would, however, have required nioro Instructors and material than >ew Zealand possessed, and an e "°J m T'Tr inl3 of officers, n.c.o.s, -and Ter ntiana s would have l>oen uvnmtainca in unit; camos spread all <ovor New Zealand, who would iiave been l'cst to both the tionary Force and to civil ,?, h . 0 policy was, therefore, adopted of J™*™'" wins the available instructors, thereby effecting economy and reducing tho number' taken from active service ,or from civiV industry nt any _ one time to the possible dimensions. ; "Tho exporienco gained by the c • tralised system of training showed the fit dsr^"!nic^ Umler the old svstem, instructors were required to travel long mote areas containing scattered Temmou , j, 8 .f mim i imStersMWijaß 6tr'ictioiial 3 fn^ with tho impossible task of giving satisfactorv military instruction to- trainees of different dosrees of efficiency and a 0 on every parade.

District Concentration Camps. "The average employer in country areas roeosrnifos the nncessit.y for deienno, and is symnatlietio to its administrators. As practical men they recognised that the value of military instruction, given undef this system was not proportionate to tho lo=s to civil industry. Consequently, thej objected to this form of military training, with the result that it has been prao ticallv abolished in country districts dur ing Ac last three years. It is essential that country -trainees shall do thenshare and not leave Defence'entirely to ithose trainees living in town areas. The obvious solution is to have convenient 'concentration camps at which country trainees can attend »vt convenient period#, and where they can receive the best possible ! nstruction from Defence exports. It is equally obvious that each district should possess its own concentration camp in order to inflict the least possible inconvenience upon tliose who attend and also for reasons of economy and the creation of the necessary esprit-de-corps. 1 lie first essential is the provision of nmplo supplies of efficient and enthusiastic otfleers of the right type for both the Territorial and Cadet forces. That the officers and n.c.o.'s of the permanent forces should possess the- necessary efficiency and qualifications goes without saying. Fortunately, the Dominion now possesses permanent officers and n.c.o.'s who can bo reli«l upon to carry out their duty successfully, and whose value in war can be indicated by the large percentage decorated for distinguished service in the Great Y<u* , "Some think that tho concentration of men in military camps is bad from many points of view. Were masses of men taken into camp, neglected by their instructor.-!, and left to their own idle devices, this would doubtless be the case. In district concentration camps every precaution would be taken to sco that the instruction given made for strengtli of mind, body, and character, and the prevention of idleness in every particular. Probably the number of men in' caiivp at any one time would not be greater than the strength of one battalion (1000 men), little, if any, greater than the Territorial unit camp, with the additional advautago of permanent hutments, a picked instructional staff, and the best supply of training equipment. With good instructors, interesting sub-jects,-.--healthy games and other interests, combined with the personal example of the instructors—who would all be specially selected officers and n.c.o.'s—concentration camps could not demoralise men. On the contrary, they would broaden- their outlook, and the majority would unquestionably return to civil em-„i.,-.><>i.t pli-nngrr mentally, morally and physically than they had over been Before. During the .reinforcement training in New Zealand, opinions of competent officers, clergymen, doctors, and other responsible authorities were obtained regarding tho physical and' mental condition of recruits upon first, entering camp nn'd their moral outlook upon life. The consensus of these opinions was unanimous that in the majority of respects military training improved the individual man and strenethenod his character. If this was possible when the majority of the best officer and n.<\o. instructors were serving with the Expeditionary Forces abroad, it shows what ran h" expected now that, the whole in-slrui-limnl stuff is available for peace training." "No Danger of Militarism." Colonel Slcoman went on (o say that there wns no danger of militarism being introduced into- New Zealand, and lie claimed (hat the permanent forces of tiio Defence Department were nm over-lall'ed with officers and n.c.o.'s. I It was hopeless to' maintain, lio contend-1

Ed, that a permanent force of a little ovor 300 in strength was too largo for the iMsnructional training of over €0,000 trainees. Before a concentrated system of training could be introduced, lie continued, it would be necessary to establish a permanent camp in eacli military district, in order to ensure that trainees entering camp trould be comfortably housed in good sanitary surroundings, and that the neoessary accommodation would exist for their instruction in wet weather, and for the custody of their arms, etores, and equipment. Tho provision of these camps would not offer any great difficulties or involve any-con-siderable expense, for suitable premises for conversion existed in each of the three military districts into which New Zealand was to be divided for the future. At the present time, however, with the shortage of labour -and the necessity for the erection of civil premises, it would be inadvisable to proceed with the establishment of- these training camps, although their necessity, would be reoognised by all cognisant of the requirements for efficient defence.

Training of Officers and n.c.o.'s. , Between th v present tiino and the time when these camps could bo formed there must be ail intervening period, which could bo very profitably utilised for the better instruction of Territorial officers and n.c.o.'s, in readiness for the time when the better system of defence training could conio into full operation. In this connection it was wise to conform to tltji principles of training which had been discovered to be the best by hujidreds of years' experience in England. These principles were the result of countless experiments, many of which -had been very costly failures, and it would 'be extremely unwise to experiment with new ideas when they had these valuable lessons at their disposal. These lessons might classified a's follows!—(a) Hie necessity for training officers and n.c.o.'s in centralised schools, under highly expert staffs, and where tho best instructional apparatus could be provided. (b) An intensive system of training for recruits at centralised depots before passing to units, (c) The selection of the most efficient soldiers for uglier training to fit them for n.0,"0. ranks and officers commissions. Under this system, the recruits were trained by specially selected instructors before being posted to units and passing under the unit officers and nco's The latter wero not, therefore, hampered by,having to engage in elementary instruction, and could,demote their whoio time to tho advanced instruction of those under their charge. No "Duds" Wanted, Before New Zealand could be regarded as safe from invasion it required a defence force capable. of operating as a complete division and efficient m every resDect At the present time, there was Jiot a Territorial unit in the Dominion capablo of carrying out fompanj manoevres with success, This meant that the Territorial Force liad to pass 1 company, battalion, brigade, and diwsional manoeuvres before it cculd be regarded as efficient. Tho f° rc ® w "".. have'to be rapidly niobilisable we 1equipped, and woll-disciplined. It would have to possess great marching andfighting efficiency, be well trained in manoeuvre, and in every respect bo as efficient as the "Old Contemptible Armv of 1914. An inefficient army wns valueless, yet, in order to gniii olhcicncs, all concerned must bo prepared to give tho necessary time and .money, amd to in alto tho sacrifices required if the Uominion was to remain at peace. In the Great War everything that was imperfect. unsatisfactory, or useless, was classifieil under a comprehensive, well-known expression—"dud." There was nc.room for "dud" things in any-part of Now Zealand training. Unquestionab >, mncentrated twining offered a thousand-told Wfe opportunities for, gaining: efficiency than dispersed instruction,■ a "d , thD t "°- minion would reap vast benefits fioiu this schemo outside those directlj nectod with military training. t Colonel Steeman concluded by making extended reference to tho valuo of cade training, liis reranrks on tins enbjccl being reported under a soporuto heading.