MILITARY TRAINING.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 181, 1 August 1919, Page 7

MILITARY TRAINING.

DEFENCE MINISTER'S SCHEME. NO GERMAN MILITARISM. The Minister of Defence, Sir James 'Allen, in a letter to the Auckland Soldiers' Mothers' League, says:— "With regard to your resolutions protesting against the four months' training, and your statement that it is 'disguised imove to introduce militarism,' I beg to. state that you have totally misrepresented the case. It is not intended by any disguise to introduce a military 'spirit such as that evidenced by Germany and by the training she has given to her people for so many years. My aim with 'regard to the proposed training is to create the physically fit citizen and to enable him to have a basis of training 'which would fit him to take the field at 'short notice, should the occasion arise, to., defend his liberty and freedom. I would call your attention to the fact that the training of our Expeditionary Force revealed the physical weakness of many of our men. It is my idea, if the country will agree to the four months' 'training for the first year of Territorial, to make the bulk of the work physical drill, the intention being to remove the defects as far as possible by physical instruction. It is also intended to medically and dentally examine those who are in camp, and do what is possible to improve their physical condition by treatment, etc. It is also intended to look after their morals. Chaplains will be invited to the camp. Officers will "be selected as far as possible who have high ideals, and the intention is to use goodinfluences "with the men who come in for training."

Sir James also forwarded with the letter a copy of the syllabus for Senior Cadet training, and added: "Having read this I am sure you will realise that I am only out to do good to the rising generation."