NATIONAL DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1939, Page 6

NATIONAL DEFENCE

MINISTER OUTLINES PLANS TERRITORIAL AND RESERVE UNITS. EXTENDED ORGANISATION MAPPED OUT. (By Telegraph.) (Special to "Times-Age.”) WELLINGTON, This Day. “The system of voluntary enlistment in the Territorial Force is succeeding,” said the Minister of Defence (the lion F. Jones) today. At the.end of May the strength was 10,600, when the official establishment, was only 11,500. Since the Prime Minister’s appeal for furl her recruits, in which he announced that the Territorial Force establishment was being raised to 16,000, the strength has already jumped to 12,000 in a few days, although the official recruiting campaign is being launched this week. "The Chief of the General Staff (Major-General J. E. Duigan), in his recent statement, pointed out the necessity for careful organisation in the country areas before the regiments could actually take in the extra men required.” the Minister continued. "This organisation is now complete and we are ready to go ahead although. From the above figures it is obvious that recruiting is going well, and I am confident that the country battalions and mounted rifle regiments will reach their full quota of the mean establishment within three months. “The Prime Minister has pointed out that the response to his appeal for men to enrol in the National Military Reserve has been steady, but I feel sure that here again the rate of enrolment will accelerate as soon as everyone knows what they are expected to do. I am therefore pleased to announce now the details of organisation and the arrangements made for training the reserve. DUTIES OF RESERVE. “Class 1 of the reserve is restricted to men between the ages of 20 and 35, who have had at least two years’ service in the Territorial Force or in any other military force of the Empire. They are wanted as immediate reinforcements for Territorial units, to bring them up to war establishment in an emergency. It is therefore essential that reserve units of Class 1 should, be closely associated and trained in conjunction with the regiments etc., to which they form the actual reserve. The organisation will therefore be that each mounted rifle regiment will have reserve squadrons, each artillery field brigade or other artillery formation will have reserve batteries, every infantry regiment will have a number of reserve companies, and Engineers, Army Service Corps and medical units will form corresponding reserve sections. In every case preference will be given to selected ex-members of the regiment, battery, field company, etc., concerned. For instance, the Waikato Mounted Rifles will have reserve squadrons formed mainly from exWaikato Territorials. Similarly the Second Field Brigade in the Central Military District will form reserve batteries of ex-members of the sth, 6th, 7th and Sth field batteries, and so on throughout New Zealand. These reservists of Class 1 will be trained and administered by reserve officers of the units with which they /are associated. They will not be issued with uniforms, but .will be provided with an official distinctive armlet, carrying the regimental badge of the regiment or corps to which they belong. This may be worn going to and from parades, during training and when they turn out in public with their own regiment. REFRESHER TRAINING. “Training for Class 1 will consist of 36 hours per annum, carried out as evening parades, or half-day or wholeday parades at the discretion of the unit. It will be in the nature of a refresher course dealing with the particular training the reservists previously carried out in their unit. It will also include a certain amount of weapon training and shooting on the range, with rifle, machine-guns, etc. CALL. ON OLDER MEN. “Class 2 of the reserve consists of men between the ages of 35 and 55 years who are ex-regular soldiers and returned soldiers. These men will be organised into National Defence Re'serve companies in the various areas where they are required as a second line of defence to the Territorial Force. They will be employed on mobilisation on protective duties at various important points, particularly in the vicinity of our ports, where a proportion of them will be trained for anti-aircraft defence against low-flying aircraft. “Class 2 reservists will not be issued with uniform in peace, but as with Class 1 will be given a suitable armlet, with a distinctive badge., which they may wear going to and from parades, during training and when they turn out in public. “Training for class 2 will consist of four muster parades a year, a special weapon training course, and any number of additional voluntary parades at the discretion of the unit. Officers for these companies will be found mainly from ex Service officers on the retired list of New Zealand or other Empire forces For instance, ex-A.I.F. officers who are able and willing to help would be welcomed where they can be absorbed in the reserve organisation. AREA COMPANIES NEEDED. “National defence companies are required in the following localities: Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Auckland, Thames, Tauranga. Hamilton, New Plymouth, Hawera, Wanganui, Gisborne. Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington. Nelson, Blenheim, Kaikoura, Christchurch Westport, Greymouth, Hokititika, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. Returned soldiers in these areas are asked to join up immediately if they have not already done so, so that the organisation of their local company or companies can be proceeded with at once. As Units are formed, the necessary training equipment will be made available. Class 3 of the National Military Re- ! serve consists of men between the ages ! of 36 and 55 years who have had no previous military service. From this class special units, particularly engineer and other technical units, will be : ultimately formed. The Public Works , Department will be invaluable in assisting with the organisation of spo-

cialist Engineer companies. It is not intended to give men of Class 3 any training at the moment, but at a later stage when Classes 1 and 2 are established and working, units will be organised from those with .special qualifications who have handed in their cards. It will then also be possible to extend the training facilities in Class 3. I wish to emphasise that men who have offered their services in the National Military Reserve are under no obligation to train in peace time unless they wish to do so. Moreover, although they have offered their services for home defence and home defence only, they cannot be called up as a matter of compulsion. They have offered their services as soldiers and if they join a company or other unit they will naturally be expected to serve for at least two years, to do their bit in the activities of that unit and also to assist in the recruiting and other activities of the Territorial unit in their area.” NEARLY TEN THOUSAND. ENROLMENTS IN RESERVE. WELLINGTON, This Day. Enrolments in the National Military Reserve have reached a total of 9,966.