HOME DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 6

HOME DEFENCE

IMPORTANT CHANGES ORGANISING ARMY OF 40,000 THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS SPECIAL TRAINING PLANS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. Oct. 6. Important administrative changes in the home defence uni.s of the land forces of New' Z aland were announced to-day tv the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jone.. lie said that the army was being placed on a footing both in organisation and training that would facilitate a smooth and rapid change-over should mobilisation become necessary.

“It will be obvious that an organisation suitable fa ; peace conditions with a territorial force of 16.000 will not answer the demands which would be placed upon it should an army of over 40.000 be required to defend these

shores,” Mr Jones said. “ The Government has. therefore, decided that the commanders of the more important formations and their principal staff officers should hold their appointments in peace in order to enable them to study various tactical and administrative problems with which they might be faced in war. This decision,” he said. “ will also enable these commanders to undertake the training of, their staffs, a provision which is very necessary in view of the number of highly trained officers who have gone overseas with the New Zealand Expeditionarv Force.” The New Appointments The following three officers have been granted the temporary rank of biigadier and costed as follows: — Colonel P. H. Bell, D. 5.0., to command the Ist (Northern) Division, with headquarters at Auckland. Colonel O. H. Mead. C.8.E., D. 5.0., to command the 3rd (Southern) Division, with headquarter? at Christchurch. Colonel N. W. McD, Weir, to command the 2nd (Central) Division, with headquarters at Wellington. The appointments will take effect as from October 14. when the following additional changes will also take place:—Colonel R. A. Row. D.S.O.’. to command the Northern Field Force; Colonel E. T. Rowllings to command

the Southern Field Force; Lieutenantcolonel L. Potter, from G. 5.0., Northern District, to command the Central Field Force, with the temporary rank of colonel; Lieutenant-colonel A. E. Co-n-way. 0.8. E., to be adjutant-general, with the temporary rank of colonel; Lieutenant-colonel L. G. Goss to be colonel of the general staff, with the temporary rank of colonel; Lieutenantcolonel H. E. Avery. C.M.G., D. 5.0., to be quartermaster-general, with the ! temporary rank of colonel. Expansion of Home Forces Mr Jones explained that the Government had •further considered the command and administration of land forces allotted for home defence in relation to the considerable expansion recently decided upon. He said that the formation of further units of the Territorial Force would be undertaken as soon as the necessary arrangements to train officers and non-commissioned officers could be made. Units of the National Reserve and the Independent Mounted Rifles, which had been and were now being organised, had further increased the number of men to be controlled bv the army authorities. The total, including the reinforcements in training for the Expeditionary Force, would be nearer 50,000 than 40.000 in the near future. ‘‘The necessity for having an adequate defence force for this Dominion has all along been recognised by the Government," Mr Jones said, “and plans that ware originally adopted have been expanded from time to time to meet changing conditions.” The training of commanders and staffs would be carried out progressively in each district, the Minister said, but as a first step in that direction, a staff course was now being held. This would be followed shortly by a course for commanders of formations and their staffs, who would have an opportunity at a later date of putting the knowledge thus gained in'o practice when their formations would be assembled for brigade training. This training would be carried out in December and March, when the units comprising these brigades would be at the end of their three months’ course of in'ensive training. “It will be seen,” Mr Jones added, “that the training of the : forces necessary for home defence is being proceeded with at the greatest possible speed.

“ The position is improving every day,” he said, “and no effort is being spared to secure more modern equipment of every description to supplement or replace that at present available. “ The staff changes that are being made will involve,” the Minister said, “ the transfer of two members of the Army Board—Colonel Bell and Colonel Mead—and I shall be sorry to lose their services at headquarters, where both have proved efficient officers. They are to be engaged on work of

great responsibility, however, and I am sure that those officers who are. tc take their places in Wellington will prove able successors. “I can assure the public,” the Minister said in.conclusion, “that the Territorial Force at the conclusion .of its intensive training will be an efficient force which can be relied upon to render a good account of itself should our shores be threatened.” - ■ ■