ARMY RECRUITS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20016, 15 August 1939, Page 16

ARMY RECRUITS

NUMBERS BUILDING UP VOLUNTARISM SUCCEEDS I\] IN ISTE RIAL ST AT EM ENT TASK NOT YET COMPLETE (Special to thp Herald.) WELLINGTON, 'this day. Despite the fact that the objective of 16,000 men for the territorial system has been reached, and much "ratification is felt by die Government on that account, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, is of oninion that the task of restoring the defensive position of the country is not ye+ complete. Certain regiments are still short of their full establishment. and some areas have not yet produced their quotas of recruits. “I feel sure that more good men of the type we have already enrolled will come forward, particularly at the centres where they are required, and do duty,” states -Mr. Jones. “There is another reason why recruiting- will be continued while volunteers of such excellent type are coming forward. The strength of 16,000 includes 700 bandsmen in the various regiments who, while they oerform most important and valuable duties and are a great asset to the Territorial Army, cannot legitimately be counted as fighting troops, although these -men are trained in the duties of stretcher-bearers. “In these troublous times it is essential that we have the complete organisation of 16,000 combatant troops, and we are, therefore, continuing our enlistment campaign, and will still accept every recruit who can measure up to the high standard now required. “Gloomy Prophecies” Discounted “I cairnot stress 100 often that voluntary recruiting for the Territorial Army is succeeding. Despite the gloomy prophecies of interested parties, nearly 5000 additional men between the ages 18 and 32 have responded to the Prime Minister’s appeal. The majority of new recruits have attended, or are attending in the next few weeks, a six-day recruits’ course at one of the district schools. They will have carried out their elementary training then, and will he ready to carry on with more advanced training in the regiment. “Territorial regiments have now officers, n.c.o.’s and men, together with adequate weapons and ammuntion, ready for action. We have the organisation and the equipment. We have the men—good men—who measure up to a high standard physically and mentally. “Officers and n.c.o.’s of the various units throughout New Zealand have •v ,-nlonrKd opportunity. and a most important duty, to press on with training so that their platoons, troops and batteries will be as efficient as possible in the shortest possible time. The men are so keen to learn that units are having difficulty in coning with the additional out-of-camp training involved, but they are tackling the work in a great spirit and excellent progress is being made. Territorials Not Untrained “Some critics say from time to time that our -territorials are untrained. .That is untrue. The majority are not fullv-tramed soldiers. Very few part-time soldiers ever could be. On the other hand, I doubt whether many regulars, officers or men, would conconsider themselves fully trained, despite years of service and experience. But territorial regim-nts have rrym sufficiently trained, even nnw. to fight as thev are likelv + o fi'dit here ;n New Zealand. Thev could hold coast defences -against attack from t.he sea: or hold defiles against raiders trying to penetrate inland: or make aircraft attack against, our vital areas decidedly unpleasant for the attackers. Moreover. ‘hey would have good artillery support -and plenty of motor transport with wh ; ch to change front rao : dlv as the situation changed. “I have every confidence that the expanded Territorial Army will progress just as quickly in fighting efficiency as it has in numbers.”