DEFENCE OF DOMINION.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1920, Page 8

DEFENCE OF DOMINION.

MODIFYING PRESENT SCHEME. DISTRICT TRAINING CAMPS. REASON FOR POSTPONEMENT. An outline of the principles upon which military training should proceed in future was given by Lieut.-Colonel J. L. Sleeman, director of military training in an address at the Wellington Garrison Officers' Club. Discussing the criticism that the existing system, based largely on the advice of Lord Kitcheuei. and Sir lan Hamilton, has failed, Colonel Sleeman said the 'system was in its infancy at the beginning of the war, while during the war its best officers, non-commissioned officers and men were withdrawn for active service; its rifles and instructional equipment were transferred to the Expeditionary Force, and the training was reduced every year. Since the war the Defence Forces have been woefully short of officers, non-commissioned officers, rifles, equipment, tents, vehicles, and every other necessity for efficiency. The outstanding fault of the existing scheme has been that in the country districts it has not produced satisfactory results in comparison with the cost. To ask a Defence instructor to gain military efficiency by attending spasmodic parades scattered al! over a district is synonymous with asking a schoolmaster to obtain scholastic efficiency by dispensing with centralised schools and dispersing his instruction over muminus small centr«s~»t which his pupils attend at intermittent intervals. As in all experiments, experience lias disclosed certain weaknesses in thel!)ll Defence system. For example, it was found that reinforcements for the Expeditionary Force could not be obtained direct from Territorial units, but had first to be sent into centralised camps for periods of training, varying from four months upwards, before embarking for active service. To some this would suggest that the Territorial units had failed, but this was not the case. First, in 1014, they had not had time to arrive at higher training; secondly, had they been mobilised in unit epips and been provided witli the necessary instructors and equipment, they could have provided the reinforcements required. The policy was, therefore, adopted of centralising the available instructors, thereby effecting economy and reducing the numbers taken from active service or from civil industry at any one time to the lowest possible dimensions. DISTRICT, TRAINING CAMPS Continuing, Colonel Sleeman said it was necessary to provide training for youths in the country as well as in the towns. The obvious solution is to have concentration camps at which country trainees can attend at convenient periods, and receive the best possible instruction from Defence experts. It is equally obvious that each district should | possess its own concentration camp for the convenience of those who attend, and also for reasons of economy and the creation of esprit-de-corps. The first essential is the provision of ample sup- ■ plies of efficient and enthusiastic officers ' of the right type for both the territorial and cadet forces. Fortunately, the Dominion now possesses permanent officers and n.c.o.'s who can be relied upon to carry out their duty successfully, and whose value in war can be indicated by the large percentage decorated for distinguished service. "Some think that the concentration of men in military camps is bad from many points of view." said Colonel Sleeman. "Were masses of men taken into camp, neglected by their instructors, and left to their own idle devices, this would doubtless be the ease. In district concentration camps every precaution would 1)0 takon to see that instruction given made for strength of mind, body, and character, and the prevention of 'idleness in every particular. Probably the number of men in camp at any time would not be greater than the strength of one battalion (1000 men), little," jf ' any, greater tliaji tjie territorial unit camp, Wift tlw a(}djtiQ!JftJ' advantage- of DMr

manent hutments, a picked instructional '(staff, and the best supply of training equipment. With good instructors, interesting subjects, healthy games and other interests, combined with the personal exampleof the instructors—who would all be Specially selected officers and n.c.o.'s—concentration camps could not demoralise men. On the contrary, they would broaden their outlook, and the majority would roturn to civil employment stronger mentally, morally, and physically." Before a concentrated system of train;ng could be introduced, he continued, it would be necessary to establish a permanent camp in each military district, m order to ensure that trainees entering camp would be comfortably housed in good sanitary surroundings, and that the necessary accommodation would exist for their instruction in wet weather, and for the custody of their arms, stores, and equipment. The provision of these camps would nob offer any great difficulties or involve any considerable expense, for suitable premises for conversion existed in each of the three military districts into which New Zealand was to be divided for the future. At present, however, with the shortage of labor, and the necessity for the erection of civil premises, it would be inadvisable to proceed with the establishment of these training camps. TRAINING OF OFFICERS AND N.C.O.'s. I The intervening period before these camps could be formed could be very profitably utilised .for the better instruction of Territorial officers and N.C.O.'s in readiness for the time when the better system of defence training would come into full operation. In this coiir nection it was wise to conform to the principles of training which had been discovered to be the best by hundreds of years' experience in England. These principles were the Result of countless experiments, many of which had been costly failures, and it would be extremely unwise to experiment with new ideas when we had these valuable lessons at cur disposal. These lessons might bo classified as follows: (a) The necessity for training officers and N.C.O.'s in centralised schools, under highly expert staffs, where the best instructional apparatus could be provided, (b) An intensive system of training for recruits at centralised depots before passing to units. (c) The selection of the "most efficient soldiers for higher training to fit them for N.C.O. ranks and officers' commissions. Under this system, the recruits were trained by ppecially selects ed instructors before being posted to* units- and passing under the unit officers and N.C.O.'s. The latter were not, therefore, hampered by having to engage in elementary instruction, and could devote their whole time to the advanced instruction of those under their charge. THE "OLD CONTEMPTIBLiES" STANDARD. Before New Zealand could be regarded as safe'from invasion it required a defence force capable of operating as a complete division and efficient in every respect. At present, there was not a Territorial unit in the Dominion capable of carrying out company manoeuvres with success. This meant that the Territorial force had to pass through company, JjattaHon, brigade, and divisional manoeuvres before it could be regarded as efficient. The force would have to be rapidly mobiiisable, wellequipped and well-disciplined. It would have to possess great marching an* fighting efficiency, be well trained in manoeuvres, and in every respect be as efficient as the "Old Contcmptibles" Army of IflU. An inefficient army was valueless, yet, in order to gain efficiency all concerned must be prepared to rive the necessary time, and money, and to make the sacrifices required if the Dominion was to remain at peace. Unquestionably, concentrated training offered a thousand-fold better opportunities for gaining efficiency than dispersed instruction, and the Dominion would reap vast bwefits from this scheme outside those directly connected with military trainmg. *