HOME DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 85, 7 October 1940, Page 9

HOME DEFENCE

MILITARY FORCES

IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE

OFFICERS PROMOTED

Important changes in the administration of the military home defence units were announced yesterday by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who said that this development was part of a plan to place the Army on a footing, in regard to both organisation and training, that would facilitate a smooth and rapid change should mobilisation become necessary.

' "It will be obvious that an organisation suitable for peace conditions, with a Territorial Force of 16,000. will not answer the demands wnich would be placed upon it should an army of over 40,000 be required to defend these shores," Mr. Jones said. "The Government has therefore decided that the commanders of the more important formations and their ..principal staff officers, should hold their appointments in peace in order to enable them to study the various tactical and administrative problems with which they might be faced in war. This decision will also enable these commanders to undertake the training of their staffs, a provision which is very necessary in view of the number of highly trained officers who have gone overseas with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force." TEMPORARY BRIGADIERS. -The following three officers have been granted the temporary rank of brigadier, and posted as follows: — Colonel P.. PI. Bell, D.5.0., to command the first (northern) division, ■with headquarters at Auckland. Colonel N. W. McD.. Weir to command the second (central), division, with headquarters at Wellington. Colonel O. H. Mead, C.8.E., D.5.0., to command the third (southern) division, with headquarters at Christchurch. The appointments will take effect as from October 14, when the following additional changes will also take place:— : . Colonel R. A. Row, D.5.0., to command the northern field force. Colonel E. T. Rowlings to command the southern fieid.for.ee. Lieutenant-Colonel L. Potter, from G. 5.0., northern district, to command the central field force with temporary rank of colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Cotvway, 0.8. E., to be Adjutant-General, with the temporary rank of Colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel L. G. Goss, to be colonel, general staff, with the temporary rank of colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. . Avery, C.M.G., D.5.0., to be quartermastergeneral with the temporary rank of colonel. . MORE TERRITORIALS. : Mi\- Jones explained that the Government had further considered the command and administration of the land forces allotted for home defence in relation to the considerable expansion recently decided upon. He said the formation of further units of the Territorial' Force would be undertaken las soon as the necessary arrangements 'to. train the officers, and noh-commis-. isibned officers could be made. The limits of the national reserve and inde:' ; pendent mounted rifles which had : been '.. and were now being organised had further increased the number of men to be controlled by the Army authorities. The total, including reinforcements in training for the expeditionary force> would be nearer 50,000 than 40,000 in the near future. "The necessity for having an adequate defence force for this Dominion has all along been recognised by' the Government, and the plans, that were originally adopted have been expanded from time to'time to meet the changing conditions," he added. "I am sure that we will have the full-support of all sections of the public in the steps that have been taken to-increase personnel, and in the task ,that has been undertaken, to.-place the Army .on a footing, '■ both 'in regard to organisation and training, ..that,, will facilitate a smooth and rapid change should mobilisation become necessary." STAFF* COURSE. The training of commanders and staffs would be carried out progressively in each district,. the Minister said, but, as a first step in that direction, a staff course was now being held. This would be followed shortly by a course for commanders of formations and their staffs, who would have an opportunity later of putting the knowledge thus gained into practice, when their formations would be assembled for brigade training. This training would be carried out in December and March, when the units comprising these brigades would be at the end of their three months' course of intensive: training. • "It will be seen,". Mr. Jones added, "that the training of the forces necessary for home defence is being proceeded with at the greatest possible speed. The position is improving every day, and no effort is being spared to secure more modern equipment of every description to supplement or replace that at present available. The staff changes that are being made will, involve 'the transfer of two members of the Army Board,' Colonel Bell and" Coldnel Mead, and I shall be sorry to lose their services at headquarters, where both have proved efficient offv cers. They are to be engaged on work of great responsibility, however, and I am sure that those officers who are to take their places in Wellington will prove able successors.

;"I can assure the public that the Tecritorial Force, at the conclusion of its: intensive training, will be an efficient, force which can be relied on to render a good account of itself should our shores be threatened-"