Territorials May Serve In Vietnam

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 12

Territorials May Serve In Vietnam

CA’ezr Zealand Press Association I AUCKLAND, Sept. 2. The New Zealand Army is expected to adopt a scheme to allow territorial soldiers to serve in Malaysia and Vietnam for short periods.

‘ This would allow terri- ‘ torials to serve for one , year with the Ist Battali. ion in Malaysia or the ‘ artillery battery in South , Vietnam. At present territorials and > i civilian volunteers have to ‘■sign on for three years. ' The director of recriuting, .I Lieutenant-Colonel H. L. ■ Jones, who visited Auckland ! today, said such a scheme ■ was under consideration. He said financial and re- ! habilitation incentives would be needed if a scheme similar ! to the Australian scheme was adopted in New Zealand. “The main thing lacking in New Zealand is public awareness that the country’s army is fighting a war in Vietnam." he said. i “It is a war. and the country isn’t doing its full bit. The ' decision to send troops overj seas was made on the pubI lie’s behalf. “The public should be eni couraging young men to aci cept their responsibilities, inj stead of making volunteers J feel like ‘mugs.’ ■ “People should congratulate ! ; any young man who volunI Leers to fight in a war.”

I The regular force was under a tremendous strain because of the present overseas commitments. he said. It was not : possible to call up territorial ; soldiers unless a state of national emergency was declared by the Government, he said. “The country has given the Army a task, but is not encouraging the men to come forward to do the task,” he said. He said the Army would I start advertising this week for | volunteers to join New ZeaI land’s f :-ce in South Vietnam.