NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1902, 12 November 1918, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME.

OUR ORGANISATION SYSTEM. A OFFICERS AND NON-COMMIS-SIONED OFFICERS. (By 11. T. B. Drew, 2nd Licutennnt.) To prepare our soldiers I horoaghly Cor France; to care for them when they relurn wounded and sielc; to repair those who may not lie too badly injured to relurn again to the front; and to restore, as inneli as possible, those who are permanently incapacitated, and send them back again to New Zealand —all this has necessitated very extensive organisation in England, and the establishment of various camps, hospitals, and depots. That organisation was long since complete; and it ensures that the very utmost is being done Cor all soldiers who leave New Zealand. Indeed, it.is a revelation even to New Zealanders at Home to find how much really is being done, particularly in the care of men sick and wounded from France. In the early days of the war it was noticed by our authorities when men,were discharged from hospitals as convalescent and drafted to reserve depots, there to be prepared again tor Franee, that large numbers broke down under the hard training—men who really should not have been sent there at all. And yet these convalescents could not remain in hospital when accommodation was urgently required for more eases from Franee. Therefore it was decided to make arrangements for a period of convalescence with graduated training. In Egypt at our base camps men of all classes were mixed up, and administration proved most difficult. So the following system was arranged for England when operations were transferred to (''ranee: To provide (1) for hospital eases. (2) for men in convalescent stages, (3) for men in the period between eonvalhseeriee and fitness, (4) for men lit to be trained for active service. Hornchurch, which formerly was a general depot for all New Zealand soldiers in England, was set a pari for early convalescents, Codford was made base doped for troops in the intermediary stage, and Sling (and later Broelon) camps for the limit 1 raining. Later it was found unwise to leave in any id' these camps men who after service had been hoarded for New Zealand, and a discharge or evacuation depot was established at Torquay, where men could await shipment home. It was fell that if there was any possibility of their eventually becoming fit again the voyage and healthier climate and outlook in New Zealand would offer them belter prospects; besides which, (lie acute food problems of England had (o he considered. As time went on, men who, (hough not fit to fight in the line, were well in other respects, were classified for home duties at camps and depots if labour was required. The classification is; “C,” men who will be fit in six months; “Cl,” men who may become fit; “C2,” men who will never he lit for the line again. Many of I hose men are found at camps, hospitals, depots, and headquarters doing police, orderly, and clerical work. A DTFEKTIiT PROBLEM. A more diffienll problem presents itself in regard to officers incapacitated. Naturally, a large percentage. are anxious to remain and lo help in some way, particularly (hose who, through ability, industry, or good fortune, have risen to rank which gives them a status which in civil life, because of their yoathfnlness, they may not have had. But, though the utmost is always done by New Zealand Headquarters, it: is not always possible lo find niches for them, and the General Officer Commanding impresses upon them that their duty calls them to relurn to New Zealand, whore they may take ,up their proper occupations among the all-too-depieted ranks of industry. This young-officer question is assuming vaster proportions each year, and on demobilisation will be a question that not only Now Zealand, but Britain, with her greater social problems and her peculiar old Army traditions, will require to handle in a new way, delicately, and with the inmost tael, if fair treatment and recognition are to be given. THE TRAINING CAMP. Our two chief Iraining-eamps in England are Sling Plains), where all Reinforcements except those for the Rifle Brigade, are sent, and Broeton (Staffordshire), the depot for the Rifle Brigade. Machine gunners are trained at Grantham (Lincolnshire). Artillery and Medical Corps at Ewshot (Hants.), and Engineers and Maoris at Boscombc (Hants.). To the-e places are distributed immediately they arrive in

England, except in the case of machine-gunners, who first go through an infantry course at Sling. Officers usually go with the companies with which they have been training in New • Zealand: but the moment camp is entered, and the men paid up to dale and otherwise accounted as correct, officers' eonlaei with those men ceases. In Sling or Broeton an officer has a live-weeks course ahead of him —all ranks going in together — and lie is taken at a common value meanwhile; but if he has worth it shows itself in this (raining; The course includes the handling of men, which is considered an important thing. Spurs and leggings must he laid aside (unless he. belongs lo a .Mounted unit); all badges come down; peaked slouch hats only are lo ho worn, with regulation pugarces; and henceforth gloves and sticks must he carried by an officer wherever ho goes. Officers are posted to battalions, with which they live and mess, contributing 2s a day to the latter and paying an entrance fee. They parade with the t;a l(a lion morning and afternoon, being nominally posted to companies, and from there march off under their senior to their training, wide!) is under the supervision of a “group" officer. This class is not competitive, and no examinations are held, it comprises instruction in the latest warfare methods. When the course is completed and I lie four-days draft leave is over the officer may he expected to ho sent at any time over to the front. Sometimes they remain a month before being wanted to till gaps. Their life is nol an unhappy one. They may feel a bit out of it amongst people who have been lo Franee, because they cannot join in annecdoles of “stunts”; but if an officer feels uncomfortable and cannot fit in. it is generally his own fault. All non-commissioned officers arriving from New Zealand go down one stripe and enter a class of instruction. At the end of their course they sit for an examination, and if they pass, their first ra'nk (less one stripe) is substantiated; if they do not, (hey go down to (he ranks, and cross to France usually with the first draft. When hi 1 joins up at the front a new non-commissioned officer is looked upon rather gingerly, and it may he wise on Ids part to regard the rights of (he old-rankers to first promotion and offer to (brow in the stripes. If a Captain likes Ihe look of a new non-commission-ed officer lie* may (ell him nol to he in a harry to Hi row (hem in, which means they are generally ret aim'd; but it ensures greater popularity with the old hands to make the offer. At both training-camps there are schools for specialisation for men and officers in signalling and Lewisgun work, and sometimes brilliant pupils are sent for further in--lruc-tion lo British schools. There are also schools for many other courses to which our officers and nonemmissioned officers regularly go. but it is not often than uoiv arrivals are sent to them. ATHLETICS. It is a general instruction in all camps that athletics! must be'encouraged. Saturday afternoons are set apart for the spoils of the season.. The various companies line op on the battalion grounds, markers are put out for various games, and, on the word, each man falls in for the game he prefers. Those who play no games are sent for a jogtrot across country lor a few miles, which rather encourages a taste fur games! Officers likewise come under the compulsory rule in these matters. General to all camps is the wet canteen. This, in a sense, is necessary unless men are to he kept absolutely teetotal, because leave to towns is not procurable; and the little village “pooblies" in the vicinity of the camps would soon develop dangerous symptoms if they were the only drinking-places. In (he camps there is no drunkenness from wet canteens; they are under daily inspection by the orderly officer, and the beer is light in qUality. There is really nothing that can he said against them. Another feature is that the canteen proceeds, instead of going to enrich publicans, is transferred to “regimental funds'’ —Hint mysterious mint of money whi®b supplies so many useful purposes with necessary cash at odd limes.