ADVICE FROM LORD MONTGOMERY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25547, 15 July 1948, Page 4

ADVICE FROM LORD MONTGOMERY

Discussing the Army plan, Mr Jones said advice had been given by Lord Montgomery, but only when ne was asked for it. He had submitted a memorandum on the Government’s plan for Army policy. The discussions., with Lord Montgomery were invaluable. He was in general agreement with the Government’s proposals. He thought it would be necessary to introduce a system of compulsory military training to obtain the personnel required. Mr Jones quoted as follows from Lord Montgomery’s views on the peace-time organisation of New Zealand’s land forces:— “The nation must be careful to avoid overstraining its basic economy in attempting to maintain in peace land forces which are beyond its capabilities. It is essential to balance very carefully the size of the armed forces with the needs of the peace economy of the country as a whole. “The nation must ensure that its young men are trained to arms so that m the event of an emergency it is capable of defending itself within the homeland or further afield, as occasion might demand. The' natioii mtifet; be able to mobilise a proportion of its armed forces quickly, so that it can handle any emergency without delay. It would be fatal to rely upon a period of respite at the beginning of hostilities in which to tram an army or to repair any unreadiness. “The full military strength of any nation depends upon its trained reserves. There must be a good scheme for expanding the national land forces in war to the fullest extent possible,

having in view the needs of war production and of war-time economy. “There seems no need for New Zealand to maintain any regular standing army in peace timeout New Zealand should maintain a regular ‘content’ in. her non-permanent army. In view of the needs of industry and the lirditations of finance, this ‘content' should be only that which is large enough to provide first: a really good training for the annual national service intake, that is, the provision of instructional and administrative staffs in training centres, schools, etc., and second, a good regular cadre in units of the non-permanent forces. This is absolutely essential if this non-perm-anent force is to be capable of taking the field in any reasonable time.” Mr Jones said Lord Montgomery summarised the position as far as New Zealand was concerned as follows: First, hasp everything on the territorial army—whatever we can afford. Second, maintain sufficient regulars to train the territorial army—no moire. Third, if we can maintain a flow of men through the army with even three months’ training our defensive organisation will be reasonably efficient. Fourth, training must be linked with the needs of industry and seasonal Mr Jones said Lord Montgomery emphasised that the first essential was to train efficiently men who would become instructors and cadres of the territorial force. Training of the regular force was now proceeding for this purpose.