N.Z. Soldiers As Riflemen

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 143, 18 August 1941, Page 2

N.Z. Soldiers As Riflemen

The observations made by Mr F. W. Do:dge, M.P., at Etfgecumhe regarding the marksmanship of men in the New Zealand Forces, and the alSeged inadequacy of the training facilities provided by the Government have, as most of our readers know, how farreaching repercussions. The matter has been taken a step further, and in a question in the House submitted by Mr Doidge to the Minister of Defence the whole subject has been dealt with at length. Con siderable comment has been evoked by the allegations, and the Auckland Star, in a leader, remarks, inter alia: — As to the standard of rifle shooting of the N.Z.E.F. the Minister's reply supports the essence of Mr Doidge's original statement, for which he was disgracefully attacked by a Minister, by Labour members, and by the Labour newspaper. Mr Doidge said he was informed that the standard of the shooting of the men, when they arrived in Egypt was "poor." The Minister says it was " not up to the standard required." What is the difference !'" The substance of the entire controversy is contained in Mr Doidge's official question to the Minister, which reads: — Questions to the Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Defence: —(1) Whether he is aware that during the 'whole of theiir' three months' intensive training at Waiouru, Territorals were on the range twice only, and that their shooting was limited to a range of 25 yards? (2) Whether lie is aware that ''during the whole of the training ves ; ending May, 1941, the National Reserve in Auckland had rifle shooting practice once only? (3) Whether he is aware that #in one company of the Reserve nine men qualified as marksmen, 44 onalified as second-class, and the balance, representing 50 per cent, of the company, could not hit the target on the occasion of tKeir one and only experience of range shooting in the. year? (4) Whether he is aware that lihe syllabus for the ensuing year provides for only one range practice? (5) Whether he observed from the evidence p-iven at an inquiry into the death of a soldier accidentally killed at Miramar that the deceased soldier, although engaged on vital points duty, had no knowledge whatever of how to use a rifle? (6) Whether he has the report of an address to officers and N.C.O.'s by Colonel Row, D.5.0., recently returned from the Greek campaign, in the course of which Colonel Row declared that while the standard of rifle shooting of our men overseas was now good, it was, when they arrived in Egypt, poor? (7) What is the Government's intention in view of the resolution passed by the Returned Soldiers' Association urging that the National Reserve, Territorials, Home Guard, and all other, defence forces should be given adequate shooting practice until they become proficient marksmen?

Reply by the Hon. Mr Jones (Minister of Defence): —(1) Weapon, training is so arranged that men do not carry out range practices until they pass certain tests called "Tests of Elementary Training/* Moreover, if on firing the preliminary practices they do not achieve a definite standard, they are sent back for further instruction. This is done to avoid waste of ammunition. There were many different units under training at Waiouru, and it is quite likely that some men, for the reasons stated, did in fact actually shoot only twice during their train-j ing at Waiouru. The range I practices, and the fact that some men did not complete their shooting while at Waiouru is not of great moment, as there ample -opportunity during out-of-camp training for them to complete their practices as and when their state of trainingwarrants the expenditure of ammunition to this end. All firing at Waiouru was confined to the 30-yards range as the full-size

QUESTIONS EN THE HOUSE Mr F. W. DOIDGE'S ALLEGATIONS THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE REPLIES

rang© is not yet completed. It jjst however, possible to tram men to the standard of nne shooting necessary on a 30-yards range, although it is, of course, preferable to have a full-size range. The preliminary practices for recruits axe normally carried out on the 30-yards range. (2) The only National Reserve Battalion in Auckland did attend the range on only one occasion. This was, however, a- whole-day parade, a.nci the- full course prescribed was fired. It must be remembered that National Reservists are all men who have had a thorough training at some previous stage. It is desirable that the practices should be spread over more than one day, but owing, to the intensive use of Penrose line range this could not be •- rangsd during the past year. (3) The weapon-training results of the National Reserve unit at Auckland show an average score of 97 points out of 180. The lowest score recorded is 26. The allegation that a large number of men could not hit the target is therefore contrary to fact. (4) No programme for range practiccs for the National Reserve in Auckland has yet been arranged for the coming year. (5) The deceased in the accident at- Miramar was not a fullytrained soldier. He was, however, given duty in company with old and experienced soldiers. Moreover, he was sufficiently well trained for the task he v/as carrying out, and he was under instruction dailyThere is no evidence in the inquiry to the effect that the deceased soldier " had no knowledge whatever of how to use a rifle," nor is there the least suggestion that the accident was in any measure due to the lack of training of the deceased. (G) I am fully aware of the views expressed by Colonel Row. This officer has stated that the standard of rifle shooting of our men arriving in Egypt was not up to the standard required for active service. This was realised, and was one of the reascds why the Government insisted upon and received an assurance that the New Zealand Division would not be employed on active service ur.til it was fully trained and equipped. Colonel Row did not state that the standard of shooting was poor, but that it was not up to the standard required. He has reported that the standard reached in New Zealand was not reproduced in Egypt, and that the reasons are: —(a) the different conditions of light on the desert which upset the troops at first, and (b) t/he loose sand from which they have to; fire in Egypt makes rifle shooting more difficult. In answer to the honourable member I may state that the amount of shooting and the standard reached by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force before leaving New Zealand is entirely dependent on the time available for training I before embarkation. Training undertaken is carried out thoroughly, and is continued overseas until all tcfoncerned are thoroughly efficient. No man will be tfent into action until he has reached a high degree of proficiency in the use of the thh possible exception (wjn t rifle. (7) The annual rifle course laid down for the Territorial Force provides for an allotment; of ammunition which is greater than that allowed in any part of the Empire, with the possible exception of India, | where it has apparently been found necessary to increase the allotment for the training of Native troops. There is also a larger '' pool" of ammunition allowed , in New Zealand for extra practice for backward shots. There is, moreover, a generous allotment of .22 ammunition made to the Territorial Force for the training of recruits. The National Reserve being composed of men who have previously been fully trained, the allotment of ammunition to these uniJis is not so great as to the Territorial Force. It is, however, adequate for the purpose of " brushing up " their previous training.