THE TERRITORIAL ARMY.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5487, 21 March 1910, Page 3

THE TERRITORIAL ARMY.

EF FICI EN T Vo LI NTEE B3 £XEJIL'T.

LOCAL TRAINING OR 11 DAYS' CAMF*. WELLINGTON", March 16 I '« fence matters in the Dominion a-e just now in a transition stage. The volunteers ceased to be, and were instantaneously resurrected by A< t < f Parliament es territorials, but there is a feeling of uncertainty abjut future operations. r Jho military authorities are unable to completely ci lighten the public just now in r--garJ to further ; developments, but it is clear, from what has been done so far, that the territorials, otherwise the volunteers, have an immensely improved states. Capitation Las been substantially increased, so as to enable old liabilities to be cleared, and full equipment provided, and a scale of pay for c-imp attendance has been provided which will briDg in more revenue to the battalion coffers.

As soon as the whole scheme becomes operative there need be no more trouble about recruiting, for, in the absence of volunteers, the commander will simply requisition his district superior for the men required to fill the deficiency, and will get them from the general training section. Old volunteers who are still attached to their company can remain under the new and improved conditions, and need not retire until the usual retiring age of 50 is reached.

Each regiment of the territorial forces will have attached to it a permanent instructor.

It is to the non volunteer that the new Defence Act will come as a call for self sicri'Gce. Efficient volunteers are to be exempt fr. in the compulsory training, but the young man who has not gone in, for volunteering will now be obliged to do a certain minimum amount of military training. Toys between the ages of 12 and 14 will le attached to the junior cadets; from 14 to 18 their pace will be in the senior cadets ; and upon attaining thp ac;e of- 18 the youth will be faced with an important prob'em, which Ke will be free to solve as suits his sense of patriotism or his disinclination to share the burden as well as ihn privilegfs of citizenship. One of three alternatives must be selected - viz , (1) refuse military .duty and suffer the penalties imposed by a court of law, (2) join the territorials (otherwise the volunteers under a new name) and train with them for three years in his own kcality, or (A) await the summons to the general training camp and put in 14 daj's annually under military insliuctors and camp discijlinp, and 12 half days at the nearest territorial centre.

As there is no way of honourably avoiding training, it is probable that a large proportion of young men will select their local territorial force as the training medium, but the alternative (the camp) will be attractive enough to the average healihy individual, and his experience of it wiil make him better fitted for his civil as well a-s military obligations The camp work will be under the instruction of mem btis of the permanent force, and will probably take lines simiar to the present company drill. 'lhe "raw material" will learn how to take sentry and outpost duty, to reconnoitre, to do efficient w.ork with the rifle in the trenches, and also to handle the shovel to make the trenches. The ordinary attack and defenca movements, including skirmishing, will be provided, and the budding soldier will be taught <; to look after himself," both in regard to hygiene and the proper utilisation 61 rations No social position can be respected. All are liable for service, -and there will be the same opportunity for everyone wirh a liking for military pursuits to continue them and secure promotion by merit.

There are 21,560 volunteer?, or territorials, in the Dominion, but military experts are of opinion that 30,000 highly traiued men should be available if New Zealand is to defend itself effectively, aud the whole of this big force can be oltained by training the physically fit males between the ages of 17 and 21. To equip the increased number more arms have to be imported, while the anahgarnent of training camps and provision for instruction is a big preliminary task before the eligible men can bo called upon to put in their training.

4 proclamation will shortly be issued calling upon all eligible persons to register their names with the prescribed tfficer, according to tha Act. The enrolment upon the register of a school attended by the individual is a sufficient registration, bat failure to enrol under other circumstances renders the defaulter liable to a fine. As a man who serves in the tcrri torials w ill not be required to put in time at the training camp, it is antici pated that a great impetus will be given to the volunteer side of the defence movement. One of the chief difficulties in carry-.) ing out the general scheme is the liability to cause dislocation, or at any j rate, serious inconvenience in some branches of industry, but to avoid this the general training period will be spread over five or six montbs^of tLe year, and batches of saveral hundreds taken periodically from the different district*. The pr< p iration of the list of eligible males 'will go on almost immediately, and it is anticipated that the firat batch of men will go into camp about the beginning of next year.

1

<

I