DEFENCE FORCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1921, Page 3

DEFENCE FORCES.

CIS CONSTITUTION EXPLAINED

[liY telegraph—ter press association] WELLINGTON, May 3

The new organisation of New Zealand’s Citizen Army (or Territorial Force) was announced to-day. The outstanding feature is that it is to furnish one complete division throughout the Dominion, which, in ease of mobilisation, will he capable of duplicating (or doubling) itself.

In other words, the new Territorial Force will lie to all intents and purposes a replica of the Xoy Zealand Army Division which fought in I ranee and Flanders, and of the Mounted Rifle Regiments which fought-in Palestine, which will also he represented.

The new scheme involves some drastic alterations, and under it many existing units will disappear. The units under the new scheme will all carry “N.Z. Expeditionary Force” designations. So they will possess “N.Z.E. F.” history and traditions.

The existing twelve Mounted Rifle regiments will he reduced to nine, forming one mounted brigade, under each command, while the 1< infantry legimeats will come down to 12, forming one infantry brigade under eacli command.

The mobile field artillery on the j other hand, has been substantially in : creased. The number of field batteries lias been advanced from nine to twelve, making a four-battery brigade in each command, each brigade consisting oi three* 18-pounder batteries, and one 4j inch howitzer battery. There will be four heavy mobile batteries, three of which are 6-inch howitzer batteries, and one 60-pounder battery. There will also be two mountain batteries, and two garrison artillery companies, while the field artillery has been increased.- Garrison artillery companies are materially reduced. Under the old scheme there were eight garrison companies in New Zealand, and now there will only betwo, one of these being Auckland, and the other Wellington. In the South Island ports, garrison, artillery are thus to disappear .altogether. In substitution there will be big (Finch howitzer batteries. Apparently, in this, the Defence authorities are adopting lessons of the war, preferring other means than solely relying on fixed defences for protection of harbours.

From tlie distribution of the various units under the new scheme, it will be noticed that most of the specialists are to he concentrated in the cities on mobilisation. Quite a number of small units will be required to be furnished by engineers, A.S.C., Medical Corps, and signallers. It is considered these can bo better trained and supplied from central depots, such as are now provided for. The strength of the three commands in “the ranks,” under the scheme, will lie: Northern command,, 16 units, total 7125; central command, 18 units, total 757(1: southern, 19 units, total 76<5. The total strengths of various arms in “other ranks” throughout the Dominion will thus be: Mounted Rifles, 4500; infs ntr.v, 12,000; field artillery, 1250; heavy batteries of garrison artillery, (*,00; garrison artillorv companies, 600; mounted batteries, 125; field engineers, ! 900; signallers, 450; A.fvO.. 600; Medi- ! cal Corps, 750; Railway Engineers, 900; ! grand total, 22,675.