DEFENCE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 21743, 11 June 1934, Page 13

DEFENCE TOPICS

HEWS FROM THE SERVICES THE NAVAL RESERVES TRAINING NOTES A combined parade, will be carried out by the A and B sub-divisions on Thursday, June 14, at the divisional headquarters at 7.30 p.m. Classes of instruction will be detailed off in readiness for Captain B. Morris, D.N.R. Every available man is requested to be present. A similar parade will follow on Thursday, June 21, at 7.30 p.m. It is requested that all candidates who gave their names in to the recruiting officer will muster at the headquarters on Wednesday, June 13, at 7.30 p.m. The miniature rifle range will be open to-night at 7.30 for further practice in conjunction with the Palmer trophy, which has to be fired for between July 1 and 25, after which the targets will be returned to the naval secretary’s office, Wellington, for checking. Lieutenant-commander P. G. Connolly, R.N.R., will he present at the range, and all those ratings who have fired this year are requested to be present at the time specified.

12TH BATTERY NOTES The annual sub-section competition of the battery was held on Wednesday. Gun drill was conducted by the battery sergeant-major, and was followed by fire discipline under Captain .Stark s command. _ .. The gunners, drivers, and signallers were judged separately. The judges were as follow:—Chief judge. Colonel S. G. Secular, N.Z.A.; gun drill and fir© discipline—Colonel J. G. Jeffrey, M.C„ V.D., N.Z.A., Captain W. Pollard, R.N.Z.A., and Mr J. Simpson (late of B Battery) ; driving, Colonel A. Holland, O.M.R. The results were:—Most efficient noncommissioned officer, Sergeant R. E Ham (Colonel Jeffrey’s prize) 1, Sergeant B. Burns 2. Best turned-out recruit in the training section, Gunner Freeman; driving competition— Brigadier Keith 1, Gunner Riddle 2. Battery staff—rGnunpr Freeman 1, Gunner Laidlaw 2.

The annual prize-giving ceremony will take place during Wednesday’s parade, which will be held at the battery. '

THE MOUNTED RIFLES WEEK-END BIVOUAC A valuable opportunity of supplementing its knowledge of practical field tactics Will be afforded the troop this week-end, when a bivouac is to be held at Beaumont. The Heriot, Clarksville, and Lawrence troops are also taking part in the manoeuvres, the success of which is assured, judging from the keenness of the trainees who are looking forward to the operations in such ideal surroundings. Members of the troop are requested to supply their own • rations and equipment.

EXAMINATIONS FOR COMMISSION A series of lectures is being held in the Drill Hall from June 1 to 13 for those candidates for proniotion from Territorials to the first appointment for comriiissions. The examination will be hold on August 26, and arrangements are being made for country candidates to sit the papers by means of correspondence.

THE CADET CORPS A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION A distinct improvement on the displays of former years, and a general keenness, reflected in the manner in which the various exercises were carried out, was the substance of the remarks of the judges when submitting a report on. the annual sub-section competition of the 12th Battery held on Wednesday night. , This in itself was a tribute, not only to the members of the battery, but also to the benefits which can be derived from the voluntary system of training, provided, of course, fbat a proper interest is maintained. To quote Mr C. M. Gilray, head master of John M'Glashan College, who attained the rank of captain in the war, and who gained the Military Cross, the Cadet corps fulfilled one of the most important lessons in the school curriculum. The. lesson of discipline to be learned from simple exercises well done could not be over-estimated.

Although the Territorial units are very much below full strength, it is indeed of decided import when educational authorities of the stamp of Mr Gilray realise tire necessity for activities of this nature. Consequently, the Cadet forces are numerically sound, and constitute an offshoot that is serving to maintain the stability' of defence in New Zealand. In the M'Glashan Cadet Corps, the .dominion has one of its most efficient and soldierly bodies. The general bearing of the boys on parade and the manner in which the drill is carried out have been the subject of much favourable comment from visiting permanent staff officers, and from the general public each year during the Anzac Day celebrations. This reputation' might bp attributed to the fact that the college is not as large as some other secondary schools, and that its Cadets receive more individual attention. In rebuttal of that presumption, however, it could be said that efficiency can. be gained and maintained by any company, whether large or small, it undivided interest is taken in training. As Mr Gilray pointed out, the success of military exercises lips not in the keenness of one, but of all, Th® components of an efficient force aro the development of pride, the consciousness of being an indispensable cog in the machine, and Jastly, honest effort. These Reflections by Mr Gilray were made at the farewell dinner on Mon-

day to Lieutenant-colonel A. S. Falconer, D. 5.0., M.C., who has retired from, the command of the Ist Battalion, the Otago Regiment. It was a graceful tribute to a man who has done much to raise the standard of 'Territorial training throughout the dominion in his twenty-three years of service, and many warm tributes were made to his ability, strength of character, and popularity among all ranks. Except for one incident, that marred its success but little, the function was carried out in a manner that reflected great credit on those who were in charge of the organising.

RANDOM VIEWS The following opinions were expressed at the complimentary dinner tended to Lieutenant-colonel Falconer on Monday night;— ’ “ The Territorial forces have not been carrying put their true function, which, to my mind, is the training of future leaders. It ’is impossible to do this until the ideal type is attracted to the service. We are not getting the cream of the country’s young manhood, and, as a result, the required degree of efficiency is not being attained. 1 say this in no discouragement of those ivho have already joined, but rather as an attempt to impress upon the public the serious results of the suspension of compulsory training.”—Lieutenant-colonel A. S. Falconer, D. 5.0., M.C. The need for a first-class defence force is greater to-day than ever it .was, and before we can get anywhere the public must be behind us again.”—Lieu-tenant-colonel E. F. Selby, M.C., V.D., officer commanding -the Ist Southland Regiment.

“ Under tke voluntary system wo have to rely more and - more on the Cadet battalions for our future leaders.”—Major O. H. Mead, D.S.O. “ There is not a single secondary school in New Zealand that has abandoned Cadet training, which is an extraordinary implement of education, and an avenue for giving boys a sense of responsibility and the quality of self-reliance.”—Captain H. P. Kidson, rector of the Otagp Boys’ High School, “ 1 assure the regiment’s successor [Major J. MTlierson] that it will be fed from the Cadet units in the future. To assure this I suggest that the commanding officer should visit each school just prior to the close of the school year, and make an appeal to boys just leaving school to carry on the work in the Territorials. I am sure it would prove very effective.”—Captain C. M. Gilray. .

“ NOT STIMULATING WAR " GOVERNMENT’S DEFENCE POLICY Alluding to the recently-announced plans of the Government for the strengthening of the defence forces of the dominion, the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. G. Cobbe) stated to a gathering of returned soldiers at Uunterville recently that it was wrong for anybody —as some critics had done-—to view the Government’s plans in the light of stimulating war (savs the Auckland ‘Herald’).

It must not be forgotten, Mr Cohbe said, that New, Zealand to-day was practically defenceless. The plans of which he had given particulars in Auckland recently were, m these worldtroubled days, to change that position. All that was being done was to provide the dominion with, protection in the event of any emergency, which he hoped would not arise. ” After all, the Minister said, a man locked the door of his house or business premises, not expecting a robbery, but to provide, a measure of protection against robbery.. That was what New Zealand was doing in strengthening its defence forces.