DEFENCE CHANGES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17060, 3 February 1921, Page 7

DEFENCE CHANGES.

INTERVIEW WITH COL. YOUNG. Tho Otago and Canterbury Military Districts ceased to exist on Tuesday, and are now mer-ged in the new southern command, which includes the South Island (says yesterday's "Otago Daily Times."). The Dominion is now divided into three military districts, being, respectively the southern, central, and northern districts. Colonel Young, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., who commanded the Second Brigade comprising the Otago and Canterbury battalion in Franco, and now assumes command of the southern district, with temporary headquarters at Christ-church, in an interview yesterday gave our representative a general ontTine of the proposed changes. The actual boundaries of the districts have not been finally settled. For in-, stanoe, there are certain territorial difficulties in the case of Gisborne in the North Island and Nelson and Marlborough iu the South. In matters of communication Nelson and Marlborough are at present more conveniently reached from Wellington, though in case of hostilities it might he found impossible for troops from those provinces to cross the Straits. _ Colonel Young emphasised the strategic importance of completing the South Island Main Trunk line, adding, that one returning from active service could not fail to notice the missing link in the lino of island communication. The ultimate disposition of these districts will bo determined by actual experience. Under the altered system each command will be divided into: four groups under separate officers. Present organisation will be largely used, except that group commanders will now have bigger jobs. Colonel Young admitted that the South Island does look like a big command. "But," he added, "the war proved that officers must in peace times be trained in posts involving larger scope foi initiative and bo given greater responsibility, and the larger commands are calculated to secure this. The old method of 'pass-to-you please (a phrase well understooa in the department) is useless on active service, and men must be trained in initiative and responsibility in order to save lives in war. Enoh. command will now provide a regiment of mounted rifles, a brigade of artillery, a brigade of infantry, and the proportion of technical units required in a mounted brigade and an infantry dnysibn. Dunedin will supply artillery and technical units. The groups in each command will be divided into areas, but the staffs of the areas have riot been fixed. A permanent South Island training camp will be established at Burnham, where the old Industrial School building? will form the nucleus of the neeessarv accommodation. Thero is an area of "1000 acres attached to Burnham, so that it is regarded as in every way suitable for 'the purpose. New divisional equipment, including G.S. waggons, gun limbers, cookers, and the multifarious things required for a camp, will be installed. The ordnance Btore at present' in Christchurch will be removed to Burnham, which will become tho mobilisation centre for tho South Island. '•The object of the change," said Colonel Young, "is efficiency and economy. Tho larger groups will ensure both. Our force may be relatively small, but it must lie efficient, however small it may be. The main changes are the result" of actual war experience, and will certainly accomplish the objective we have in view." Colonel Young desired to record his thanks to Colonel McDonald and his staff, who had given him every assistance. He had been entrusted with what appeared to be a somewhat unpleasant task, but the local staff had materially helped him over ail the difficulties. Colonel Young is now O.C. of the Southern Military District, having formally taken over the duties yesterday. Major Lampen is clearing up the present district headquarters, and when this work is completed the local activities will bo transferred to offices at the Kensington Drill Ball. _