OUR CITIZEN ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 193, 15 August 1911, Page 6

OUR CITIZEN ARMY.

"OUT OF A HETEROGENEOUS MASS." GENERAL GODLEY'S FIRST REPORT. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "The period -under review is one of transition from the old, volunteer force to the new citizen army,'' remarks General Godley, general officer commanding the New Zealand Forces, in the course of his first annual report tabled in the House this afternoon by the Hon. O. Fowlds, Acting-Minister of Defence. A REVIEW. The report is mainly a narrative of what has been accomplished or undertaken since General Godley's arrival in the Dominion in December last. The headquarters staff has *een reorganised on the same lines as at Home, and the Dominion General Staff is now in working order. The services of the General OtHcer commanding the forces have been lent by the Imperial Army Council, together with that of fourteen other officers, to assist in the formation of the citizen army. On the expiration of their respective periods it is hoped that the training of the New Zealand staff corps will be so far advanced as to replace these Imperial officers. After reviewing the establishment of the New Zealand staff corps, as recommended by Lord Kitchener, and the opening of the Australian Military College for the training of New Zealanders, the report proceeds to deal with other details of the service. Appointments uf Territorial officers, General Godley states, will go to the most suitable and most deserving from the ranks, or to those who show most pro-pise as senior cadets. One oflieer of the New Zealand staff corps is now at C'umberley, and for the first time there are candidates for entrance into this institution. One vacancy is promised, aud it is hoped that another may be obtained. Six officers have been sent Home for a year's training, and application has been made for four officers to be sent for six months to India. Arrangements are iu progress for the sending of a number of citizen officers to India for training, and for exchange of officers of the staff corps with permanent officers from Canada and Australia. Proposals wiln shortly be made for the establishment of a school of musketry. DISCOURAGEMENT IN THE PAST.

''ln the past," reports General Godley, "it has been a great discouragement to junior oflicers to find their chances of promotion and advancement blocked by the retention of officers beyond a reasonable age limit. Regulations for retirement must be most strictly enforced."

NEW FIELD GUNS. Regarding field artillery, twenty-four of the new eighteen-pounder field guns have been ordered from Home, together with eight of the latest pattern field Howitzers. The provision of an' extra mountain, battery, in addition to the three new field batteries, is under consideration. It is anticipated that all the eighteen-pounders will reach the Dominion by February next. "The heterogeneous mass of scattered squadrons, batteries, and companies of. which the forces have hitherto consisted," remarks General Godley, "has been sorted out and reorganised, mak-| ing a total of twelve mounted rifle regiments, sixteen battalions, and eight •batteries. Territorial coast defence commanders have also been appointed. The principle adopted is for citizen officers to command all units of the citizens' army, assisted by permanent officers. A FORCE OF 30,000. The establishments of the forces have been raised to practically the same strength for peace as for war. This provides for the force of 30,000, recommended by the War Office, and also enables the Defence Department to take into the Territorial army all who will he available for service. Jt has, therefore, been decided for the present that the general training section will not be necessary, the latter being only a makeshift for men available who could not be embraced in the original low peace establishment. The registration of youths available for service up to July 17 resulted: Territorials 21.838, senior cadets 29,091; adding Territorials now Reiving (under 21) G309, and those over that age desirous to continue service 2802, there is a total of 31.009, practically just the strength required for the new army, establishment of 30,000 men. A certain percentage, however, will be eliminated "by the medical examination now proceeding. TRAINING FOR ALL. The only exemptions permitted are those who "are physically unfit and likely to be injured in any way by the training, or those employed under the Education Department as instructors for junior cadets. Special railway and post and telegraph corps are being formed, and will be of great value to the army. A few sparsely inhabited areas have been exempted from training for the present, ■but with the exception of those living in these areas all males between 14 and 21 will be. posted to units for training, however far they may be from towns or railways. Villages, farms, etc., will bo visited by officers and non-commissioned officers of the ipermanent staff for the purpose of carrying out the necessary drills, and all will -be assembled for regimental drills and battalion camps. General Godley states that he has been much struck with the excellence of the material of the old volunteers and senior cadets, and with the spirit in which they are entering into the new scheme. Many are remaining in the new citizen army, and will prove a valuable nucleus to the force.

DRILL HALLS TOTALLY INADEQUATE. "The existng drill halls are totally inadequate, both in number and as a rule iu size, for the increased numbers of men and boys "who will be trained under the new scheme," declares General Godley. "It is indisputable that there should be drill halls for use in winter and in bad •weather at all centres which are the headquarters of a troop of mounted riiles, a section of infantry, a company of senior cadets, or any larger formation. These buildings should be put in hand at once, and should bo the absolute property of the Defence Department. The present system, 'by which many of the drill halls are in the hands of trustees, and are used for purposes other than drills, is unsatisfactory, and is a great hindrance to efficient training. I will shortly submit definite proposals for the erection of a single and inexpensive type of drill hall at those places where they are required, also for the acqursifcion by the Department nf those now in existI enoe which are held on unsatisfactory I terms.

ARMS AND AMMHMHON. "Seven thousand new rifles have been ordered from. Home, and are expected, to arrive shortly. These, with the number already in the Dominion, make a total of 39,432 available for use. Requisition for ordnance ammunition to maintain the regulation equipment, together with ample provision for two years' practice supply for all guns, have been put forward. Arrangements are being made to complete the reserves of big gun ani small arm ammunition as recommended •by the Colonial Defence Committee. "I have inspected the works of the Colonial Ammunition Co., and am satisfied that they are well organised, and can cope with the immediate requirements of the Dominion.

"There have been set apart 28,800 acres in the Waimarino district in the North Island, and 8,541 acres in the Waimakariri district in the South Island, as training areas. It is not intended to build permanent hutments or camps on these areas. They will be reserved for manoeuvre purposes in the future. The principle of the citizen army is that the men shall do their training territorially, and the practical elimination for the present of the general training section makes the establishment of permanent standing camps unnecessary. CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT. "Tenders have .been accepted locally for the supply of the necessary uniforms and boots, and their manufacture is now proceeding rapidly. Capitation grants will be paid for 1911-12 on the numbers of old volunteers existing cm. Ist March in order to assist units in clearing off their just debts. In future all recruits for the whole of the forces will 'be clothed and equipped by the Government. Clothing stores must be provided at onee at Auckland, Christchureh, Dunedin, and at many outlying regimental and battalion headquarters. Sixteen thousand sets of the latest pattern marching order equipment have been ordered, also sufficient maxim guns to complete the equipment of all mounted rifle regiments and infantry battalions in this important respect.

"The question of obtaining portable wireless equipment for the forces is under consideration. NEXT YEAR'S TRAINING.

"It is hoped that the posting •of all those registered will be completed by the beginning of September, and that it will be possible to commence training these men during that month. The interests of employers and employed, the suitability of men for the various arms, and as far as possi'ble the wishes of the men -as regards the arms in which they wish to serve, will all be considered. The training will at first be most elementary and rudimentary, and no camps will be held till Christmas time and after. The annual week's -camp will tie held .by regiments and battalions, and in the case of the mounted rifles who are chiefly drawn from farming and dairying districts, the camps will not, as a rule, be held till near the end of the training season, namely 31st May."