OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVII, Issue 50, 20 December 1910, Page 6

OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

THE NEW COMMANDS. MILITARY TRAINING SCHEME. WLELINGTON, Dec. 16. As Major-General Godley is now directly responsible for the efficiency of the forces and the direction of military affairs the position of Chief of the General Staff hitherto held by Colonel Robin will no longer be necessary. The Commandant has recommended the appointment of Colonel Robin as Adjutant-General, a position which un-, der the new scheme will be a more important one than before. The service will then under the Commandant be divided into four branches, as follows:—Military Training and Education, Lieutenant-Colonel E. S. Heard; Military Operations and Intelligence, Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. Burnett Stuart, D.5.0.; Ordnance, LieutenantColonel H. F. Head, N.Z.M.; Adju-tant-General, Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. Robin, C.B. Lieutenant-Colonel Tuson held office as Adjutant-General under the Defence Council until about seven months ago, and since his departure for England Captain R. Seddon carried out the duties of the position. The Commandant lias bocn reviewing the personnel of the headquarters staff, and it is likely that several other changes will soon be made. Major-Gen-eral Godley has boon reviewing applications for the positions of area officers and non-commissioned officers in connection with the.compulsory military training of the young men of the IV minion, and will probably announce ,theappointments in a few days in order that all officers and non-commissioned officers who are to he entrusted -with carrying out the new scheme may be made thoroughly conversant with' the ditties to be appointed them. 'Hie Commandant is arranging for a two months' central encampment somewhere in the vicinity of Pigeon Bush, Featherstou, commencing in January next. Lieutenant-Colonel Heard (Director of Military Training and Education) will be in command, but MajorGeneral Godley will keop a supervising eye on the work.