ARMY REPORT

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 12

ARMY REPORT

FALL IN STRENGTH pF REGULAR FORCE TERRITORIAL TRAINING PROGRESS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 11. For the third successive year the strength of the Regular Force has been inadequate to deal satisfactorily with other ’than the most pressing day-to-day activities of the Army, says the Chief of the General Staff (MajorGeneral W. G. Gentry), who will retire this month, in his annual report tabled in the House of Representatives today. Major-General Gentry says that at the beginning of the last financial year the strength of the Regular Force was 3905, or 295 fewer than the authorised strength of 4200. During the year numbers fell by another 104 to 3801, all ranks, at March 31, 1955. There was a slight increase in the number of Regular officers, and the strain of widening commitments was eased by the reduction of K Force and the consequent decrease in the number of Regular officers required by that force. ' More soldiers took their discharge than were enlisted. Major-General Gentry also says thaT a review of mobilisation plans is in hand. Sufficient men have now been trained under the Military Training Act for initial mobilisation requirements. The dental condition of the Territorial Force is no better than in previous years, adds the report. The dental problem that would be faced by the Army on mobilisation would be serious.