CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 71, 24 March 1910, Page 5

CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

OPERATIONS 'OF TEE NEW ACE. ARRANGING DISTRICT MACHINERY Some interesting particulars were supplied by Colonel Wolfe, O.C. in the Auckland, district, to a "Star" representative this i morning, relative ;■ to the operation of t the new Defence Act., ,,■• The defence forces •of the . Dominion, Colonel Wolf a points out, axe now in. a state of transition, In regard to.the position of officers, first v. appointments . will be .made on the recommendation ; " of:a Board.of Selectors, consisting of the OX!, and tha officers commanding; the- corps o affected. A Promotion Board will deal -with promotion. The unattached active list will be abolished, -officers being- transferred to a special.reserve.'v ( '\]'']>"'■--""■:. ■ ~.. With reference.... to the enrolment" of territorial forces, Colonel ;* Wolfe states that, at ; present these will only be , recruited up to the establishment of the old volunteer...,forces. .. Infantry and ; cycle corps will have to go into training for seven days, training night and "morning. -' Volunteers remaining in camp- during the day will receive personal allowances under the terms of general order Ife 59 (paragraph 5), issued on the' llth" of February last. Officers commanding ' ara ■ asked to consider the advisability of tabing advantage of "the Easter holidays for training. In regard to defence cadets and reserve corps, it ia not at present decided whether ;,- the provisions • of.- section 3S- of the Act ■ (providing for training from the ages of 12 to 14 years) : will be enforced •with, reference to ; independent "companies. The question : of registration of youths liaWe to. serve in; the < general; training section is ■■ receiving consideration,- and training is expected-to : commence- within 12 months. It wiU be carried on • during about five /months jrL:th.ejyeaz,;jn order to interfere .as _little'raS~|>dssible with ~ employers;- *-— —■ - Y. , -■'*■ -■'- •*;■- ■ " if^* The future prganisation-of; -territorial forces (mobile field forces) will, Wolfe _ explains, ; be. carried out :on -the following lines: _xhe. territprialvforce in .each-district is >to : be organised .into t brigades, regiments, and battalions, ,as far .as • local ■ conditions will permit. -■■ It will be comprised; \>f ona mounted rifle bri-'■ga:«tej'vdif.-.two';-...0t, three ■ regiments . -and headquar -onex, mounted- signalling:'.' - company one ; mounted supply one "■;- ' mounted field ambulance,' one field artillery brigade, one, ammiTiiition. column, tone/field engineers company, one infantry brigade -of three-:or -four battalions'. and. headquarters, L one infantry signalling company, one infantry:'j.*Bxip"glyS. column (mixed), and one field- ambulance; ■ - This, ' Golbnel .Wolfe adds,', '.should"{mean about 5000 in each .district's .nTooile"-brigade.