Australian Defence.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1922, Page 4

Australian Defence.

AIILTTARY FORCES TO BE REORGANISED.

SYDNEY, April 19

The Minister of Defence and the members of the Alilitary Board are at present engaged in framing the new policy for the defence forces of the Commonwealth.

One of the most important matters to he decided before the policy can ho framed is tho future of compulsory military training, and the citizen forces. It is regarded as certain that although the training might be restricted to the more populous areas, owing to the large amount of money involved in the provision of stores and the attendance of instructors in outlying districts, there will he a reduction of personnel of all the existing units. The object is to retain an organisation which would be callable of

providing the nucleus of an efficientarmy in the event of war. To obtain tho small blit efficient citizen force, it is likely that tho standard of physical fitness will he raised, aaid that, although the compulsory training system will bo retained, citizen soldiers will be selected from tho most enthusiastic, youths. To reduce the expenditure a number of senior officers on the general staff will be retired and compensated, and it is expected that the permanent staff of officers and non-commis-sioned officers will lie reduced. 1 lie proportion of training which will ho allotted to the “ home ’ aiul continuous periods will have to he decided.