MILITARY RESERVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1940, Page 8

MILITARY RESERVE

PART IN NEW ZEALAND’S DEFENCE IN EVENT OF INVASION. PRAISE EROM SIR ANDREW RUSSELL. The part the National Military Reserve would be called on to fill in the event of any attempted invasion of New Zealand by an enemy was described by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, Inspector-General of the New Zealand Forces, in an address to the 3rd Canterbury National Military Reserve Battalion, which he inspected at a ceremonial parade in Christchurch recently. Sir Andrew praised the standard of efficiency of the battalion, reached after a very short period of training. The parade, comprising nearly 700 officers and men, was under the command of Colonel H. C. Hurst. Sir Andrew was accompanied in his inspection by Colonel E. C. Rowllings, Officer Commanding the Southern Military District, Colonel R. B. Smythe, and Captain R. T. St Lawrence, his aide-de-camp.

Assembling at the King Edward Barracks, the battalion marched to Cranmer square, led by the Band of the Ist Battalion of the Canterbury Regiment. At the square it formed up for the inspection. The steadiness of the men while waiting during the inspection was notable, as was the precision with which all movements were carried out. After the inspection the battalion marched past while Sir Andrew tool: the salute. An army loudspeaker system enabled his address to be heai’d not only by the troops, but by the large crowd which had assembled to watch the parade.

EFFICIENCY OF BATTALION. “It is a great pleasure to see on parade so many ‘old stagers,’ some of whom I remember meeting in France long ago,” said Sir Andrew. “Here we are, 20 years older, and we have had to put on our uniforms again and rub off the rust,” he continued. . “I know and you know that we are not so active as we used to be. We can’t touch our toes so easily, but we still have a good kick in us.” He was very pleased with what ho had seen. Certainly it was a ceremonial parade only, but it was a good index of the efficiency of the battalion. Colonel Hurst should be very proud of what the battalion had been able to do in so short a time. On another occasion he would see the men engaged in practical work in the field. After all. that was the work that would be useful in defeating any invader. Those who served in France in the last war had been accustomed to seeing troops advance in a long line from the tren’ches. That was not the sort of fighting the reserve would be engaged in if there was any trouble in New Zealand. The battalion was fortunate in having a commander experienced in the fighting in Palestine and the desert, with special knowledge of the sort of open warfare likely to be met in. the event of an invasion.

POSSIBILITIES TO BE FACED. “I know that in equipment you are still short, but you will get it as soon as possible,” Sir Andrew continued. “An enemy coming among us might have better equipment than we would. But we must look at our strong points. We have more intelligence and more initiative. On those qualities we must depend, and on our good marksmanship, fire control and power to use our wits.” For the territorial force, intended to be the main fighting force, all sorts of equipment was being provided. The National Military Reserve had, as far as possible, to be self contained. Its members might be the first in the line, for those nearest to possible points of landing would be called on first to act in defence. If war broke out with a possible invader there would be a 14 days’ precautionary period. Then would follow an “alert” stage when hostile ships were likely to be in New Zealand waters. At that stage the reserve would take up its allotted positions. No one could say how much warning there would be of an enemy ship coming out of %he mist —it might be one and a half hours. So the reserve must be ready. Its members must know their part of the country intimately. “We depend on your intelligence and initiative.” said Sir Andrew in conclusion. “We know you have all the other qualities which make good soldiers.”