Territorial Force

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 184, 21 August 1937, Page 5

Territorial Force

i Our Own Correspondcnt.)"

REORGANISATION Present Voluntary Basis to be Retained REVISED CONTROL

(From

WELLINGTON, This Day. "A thorough Teorganisation of the territorial force has been deeidod upoii by the Government," said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in a statement to-day. "It is proposed to go forward on up-to-date lines so that tbe best po&sible results may be obtained for th© expenditure on establishing an efficient system. The present voluntary basis will be retained. A greater oise of mechanised equipment and training in the open will b© distxnctive feaures of the reorganised system and the maximum effort will be concentrated on field training. In this Way the physical beneflts as well as military efficiency cannot fail to be progressive and effective. "Revlsed methods of control are proposed, together with a thorough Teorganisation of the machinery of the Defence Department. These do not involve any fundamental change in policy. It is largely a matter of bringx&g the system of command into line with that now in force in Great Britain and in the other' Dominions. Certain units of the territorial force will be amalgamated, the aiin being to organiso the j'prce as an efficient land unit, including the manning of coastal and other equipment. The reeponsible advisory body will be th© Couneil of Defence constituted as follows: Chairman, tho Prime Minister, members, the Minister of Defence and such other members as may be appointfid by the Prime Minister; Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the General Staff, Chief of the Air staff. The secretary of this couneil will be" responsible for advising tho Government on broad matters of policy and for co-ordinating the work of tho three services in the direction of sccuriug a high standard of efficiency and co-operation. "Each of the three services— -sea, land and air — will in turn be controlled by a board which, in the case of tlie territorial forco, will consist of a president, the Minister of Defence, first member ; chief of the General Staff , Adjutant and Quartermaster-General ; second member, adjutant and quarter-master-general, third member, the Army Secretary. Under this system a general simplification pf appointments and organisation, both gt army headquarters and in the three commands or military districts will be carried out. The Government will be entirely responsible for policy and for the provision and control 'pf the funds to carry out its policy. Beneficial Training. "A more beneficial and effective system of training will be adopted. Instead of a series of night parades, which gufFer tho obvious disadvantage of indood drill and instruction at a tirne when young men have already done their day's work, week-end parades' will be held. These will take the form of bivouacs in the opou, using motor transport. Conditions of .such training will be adequate in Tespect of pay, rations, accommodation and trapsport. The same prineiple wilf be fpllowed at the annual camps, whipli it is intended to hold at Easter as far as may be practicable. In addition every territorial will have the opportupity of att°nding up-tp-date courses where he will roceive training full of varied interest with scopq for doing something worthwhile. For these courses pay rations and freo travelling will be pr vided. "As far as the coastal defence is eoncerned, it is proposed to enrol a. number of men for a continuous, period of three months," continued tho Minister, #This should give young men an. opportunity to becojno thoroughly conversant with the latqst equipment. Incidontally, this proposal should be particularly valuable to those who, because pf seasonal conditions, may desire to undertako a longer period of training without interrupting their normal activities. "With a view of improving the standard of training if is proppsed to provide a schopl for the higher training of senior territorial otfieers and instruetors, also district scliools for the training pf oificcrs, warrant olficers and- N.C.O. 's. and men taking up special subjects. "The collective training of units will consist of six days' annual camp (ten days in th© case of coast artillery), four wook-end parades, eaeh of two days, and a six-days' course of instruction. It is proposed to grant pay for attendanco at courses of instruction ' for training purposes during annual camps. Certain units at present under strength will be grouped to form outunit at full strengtb. A3 a result, selected olficers of all ranlcs will be given an opportunity to command full-strength units and sub-units -—not a skeleton force as at present in each military district. The fortress battalkm will be retained at full strength, and three mounted rifles and three infantry battalions will be grouped to form out composite M.R. regiment, and one coiiiposite battalion respectively. No Droppin.g of Itlentity. " "Tkore is no question of dropping tho ideutity of tho present territorial units," continued tho Minister. "iladgesjcoigurs, Tegimental alliances and bands will be retained. Traditions will lieithcr be brokeii nor discarded. "It is intended to xnake extensive qse of motor vekicles. Recent trials have demonstrated how xnotor transport allows training to bo takou farther afleld and carried out under favourable conditions. In* future, with the exception of mounted rifles regiments, all territorial units will bo motorised for training. The proved enthusiasm of motor-cyclists will be encouraged by the extension pf motorcyele platoous. V " " 1 ' Tho additional Issue of a moro alfractive unifornx is under consideralion »p that, the wear and tear of - field-

training may be confined to such service drcss. "I feel confident that the country as a whole will give wholehearted ' eo-' operation in providing faeilities for an efficient system of territorial training. I desire to express the thatxks of the Government to the officers and other ranks of our territorial force for the excellent service so willingly rendered by them up to the present time, and to express the hope that their advico and support, as well as tho benefit of .their experienco, will bo Ljrtbeoming iu th© future," eanchidcd Ihe Minister^