TERRITORIAL FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 6

TERRITORIAL FORCE.

THE NEW SCHEME. TRAINING AREAS AND ENROLMENT. SYLLABUS OF INSTRUCTION. Tho memorandum promised by the Prime Minister in regard to the defence of tho Dominion was presented to the Houso yesterday. The bulk of the' report lias already been published in Thij Dominion in special reports and explanatory articles. It will suffice to review such positions as are not only new but of special interest to tho community in general.

Subdivisions and Areas. . Referring to the division of the Dominion into subdivisions, or areas, the memorandum states that as the Territorial force beeomos organised on the n<3w establishments, each of the twentyeight regiments and battalions (seven iii each district) is to have a permanent adjutant and N.C.O. For recruiting purposes, each district is accordingly being subdivided into four infantry battalion recruiting subdivisions, to also supply its quota of other branches of the Territorial Force, the permanent staff in these-subdivisions also assisting in tho registration and local training of senior Tho thirty permanent officers and the thirty-four staff N.C.O. instructors at present employed on the permanent staff of. headquarters and districts will be- maintained, in addition to which at least twenty-eight officers 'as adjutants and twenty-eight ! N.C.O. instructors are required, one each for each regimont and battalion, tho other branches of the force being supplied with permanent staff. The four battalion subdivisions in each district are to be further subdivided into two'areas, malong, eight areas, in each district (thirty-two in all the Dominion), with one staff N.C.O. to each provided for above, whose duty will be registration, recruiting, assist in training tho senior cadets §md Territorial _ Force, theso to work m conjunction with the permanent staff of tho regiments and battalions as regards registration, until the compulsory clauses would become automatic by the record-book system. The senior adjutant in the battalion subdivisions is to be the senior subdivision officer, tho N.C.O.'s allotted to the two areas in each battalion subdivision working under, his direction, tho 1 officer commanding the. district controlling and ' directing tho whole. This will admit that at any time _ the number of areas can be increased in a battalion subdivision by the appointment of additional officers and N.C.O; s, without interference with the general organisation to meet any expansion of the system which might become necessary. •' Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, in his covering letter' to New Zealand, /recommends, say, thirty areas in the No,rth~ Island, and twenty-five areas in the South Island, or, say, fifty-five areas for the Dominion. To meet this it-will only be necessary to further divide tho. battalion subdivisions already mentioned —in the South Island into three areas instead of two, making twenty-four areas in the South Island j in the North Island into four areas instead of two, making thirty-two areas in the -North Island;- or fifty-six areas in the Dominion. The organisation into battalion subdivisions" and thirty-two ateas for the Dominion-will be put into effect during the '.present year, and next year the additional officers and N.C.O;'s should be provided for, and the areas extended to- fifty-six, thus eventually reaching the area, organisation, and working recommended by Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener. In the Auckland district command from the extreme north of the island to a lino which intersects tho island at Lake Taupo-there are eight areas, comprising 16 subdivisions. The Wellington district command, comprising tlio remainder of tho island, will contain a .limilax number of areas similarly subdivided. The same distribution of areas with similar subdivisions .applying to tho Canterbury and Nelson district command,'and tho Otago district command and apparently the Nelson military district is to bo merged into Canterbury.

: Duties ot Permanent Officers. The duties of permanent officers and N C O.'s in charge of subdivisions of areas will include:—(a). The inspection of junior cadets training in the schools, (b) The organisation and training of the senior cadets, (c) The enrolment, equipmont, and training •of .tlio adult froni eighteen to nineteen years of age. (d) The equipment, organisation, and training of tho trained man from nineteen to twenty-fivo years of 'age. (c) The supervision of tbo registration of all male inhabitants, (f) Tho maintenance of all lists of males twenty-live to twenty-six years of age,.who have just completed training, (g) Communication to "other areas of all changes of residence (if men under training, with particulars of their military efficiency. (Ii) Information regarding the' numbers, residence, and classification of tho reservo men in tho areas; and the organisation and maintenance of riile clubs, (i) A' thorough acquaintance » with the inhabitants of his area. , In all these matters, except registration and'enrolment, he would bo assisted by the officers of the citizen force of tho area.

Registration and Exemptions. It will be necessary to supply a re-cord-book to each junior cadet on his leaving school in which will bo shown his name, address, date of birth, character, drill qualification, description; with instructions to tho cadet to prosent his record-book to tho officers at the secondary school if ho intends continuing his Education therein, or, if not, to tho permanent staff officer or staff non-commissioned officer nearest to his place of residence, for enrolment in the senior cadets. In like manner tho same record-book will be further written up showing his service in tho senior cadets on his attaining tho ago of eighteen or date of leaving secondary school; and again the senior cadet will present his record-book to tho permanent staff officer or staff non-commis-sioned officer nearest to his place of residence for registration for recruittraining in tho Territorial Force. On tho completion of his recruit and territorial training, his record-book will bo fully written up, and shall be a certificate of proof that such person lias completed his period of personal service, and is passed into the reserve. In time this should act automatically, and no special registration bo necessary except for new arrivals. Similar recordbooks arc. tu be provided for men at present serving in tho Territorial Force. In order to completo lists as early as possible in each district and subdivision of a district of those liable for service, printed forms will bo prepared, oalling for name, address, date of birth, age next birthday, if serving in Territorial. Force, etc., and proclamation made that all young men between tho ages of eighteen to twentyfive are to obtain sueli forms from tho defence offices, post offices, police stations, tourist offices, etc., and to fill in same and post (no stamp necessary), ot hand to area officei- nearest his placo of residence, f-o enable lists to be prepared, and arrangements made for recruit training being put into operation with .as little delay as possible.

Compulsory Retirement. Officers, warrant officers, and sergeants of the Territorial Forco may continue service voluntarily beyond tlio ago of twenty-live, if specially recommended. Tbo ago for compulsory retirement of officers, warrant ofliccrs, and sergeants will beColonels, 60 to ou, if specially permitted; lieut.-col-oiiels, 55; majors, 50; captains, -15;

nontenants, 40; warrant officers and sergeants, -10. The rank and file pass to tlio reserve on reaching tlio- ago of twenty-five. Under special circumstances and when recommended by tlio Promotion Board an extension of tlireo years on above ago for officers may bo granted. '

Formation of Staff Corps. With reference to tho formation of staff corps, a total number of 63 permanent staff and pormanent force officers are required to institute tho scheme for 32 areas. The warrant officers and lion-commissioned officer instructors at present total 62. Thirtyseven additional officers will be required in 1911-12 to make up the staff corps, and to complete the areas from thirtytwo to fifty-six, as recommended by tho eventually forming tho staff corps as recommended: —Colonels, 3 ; lieutenant-colonels, 6; majors, 13; captains, 26; lieutenants, 52; total, 100. Out of. this coprs, the headquarters, district headquarters, adjutants, area officors, etc., will be found. Ten cadets are to be sent annually to tho military college in Australia.

Capitation. Capitation at the following rates has been approved for year ending February, 1911 (as a year of transition) :—Mounted Rifles, £i; Field Artillery and Field Engineers, £3 10s.; other branches, £3. Under the suggestions by Lord Kitchcner, capitation would not be paid to corps, but all field service uniforms and equipment,' etc., be supplied in lieu of capitation, with a small grant to corps for maintenance, which, the report considers, will certainly prove more satisfactory than the present allotment of capitation.

Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, in his memorandum on Australian defence, states: "Throughout tho period of service the citizen soldier must remember that he is discharging a duty to his country, and that tho pay he receives is not a wage, but an allowance to assist him in the discharge of his duty."

Instruction. ' The Permanent Artillery, permanent adjutants, and non-commissioned instructors will afford tho instruction at or near the officer's home; in addition, schools of gunnery, musketry, and communications, etc., under the Director of Military Training and Education, will have attention, and tho higher training in tactics, organisation, supply, operations, staff duties, etc., will be arranged for. Establishment and Organisation.-, Under the Defenco Act, 1909, tho selection and training of the 'non-com-., missioned officers rests with the corps commanders; the scale of pay increases with rank. N.C.O.'s are eligible for commissions, it being part of the duties of the Selection lioard in each" district to note promising N.C.O.s, with a view to promotion. The establishments. are, as far as local circumstances permit, similar to Imperial and Australian establishments, and as recommended by the Imperial Conference, 1909. The establishment of officers and N.C.O.s and specialists is'in peace to be maintained as for war, leaving only the ranks to be brought up to war strength from tlie 18—19-years recruit, and the .25 —26-years men, should it bo decided to so increaso tho age of service.

Syllabus of Training. The training of the Dominion Forces will, as far as possible, be carried out on progressive lines. For junior cadets it will bo principally steady physical development, elementary drill in squad and company, miniature-rifle shooting, discipline, his obligation to his country, and his duty to complete his term of personal service in the senior cadets and fighting-force. ' Senior cadets from fourteen to sixteen years. of ago are to be taken a stage further on than tho junior cadets, carefully instructed, in further, physical development, the elements of tho theory of musketry, company drill, signalling; skirmishing, and the use of natural cover, and individual rifle practice on the range.

From sixteen to eighteen, in addition, ho will bo further exercised in camp duty, riflo exercises, construction, of artificial cover, vedette and sentry work 011 outpost, patrol duties, discipline, sanitation, and recruit-training, to fit him to. take his placo in the Territorial Force. ■ '

Opportunity is to be given to enable promising senior cadets to - qualify in higher subjects, with a view to becoming officers.

Between the ages of IS and 19 firo control, company in attack and defence, field firing practices, and all duties a man should be proficient in to take his placo in a company of tho fighting force will be necessary. • Tho training of the .Territorial' Force is to consist of all that - is essential to good marching, accurato controlled shooting, and the combination of all arms in attack and defence as advised by Lord Kitchener in his Australian memorandum.' All branches of the Territorials must train for a period annually ill camp; the arranging for time and place for such camps will rest with tho corps commander, in conference with the O.C. district, tho convenience of employers and of tho men being given every consideration.

Officers' training corps at universities and; high schools will be valuable training schools in each of the four military districts, and will be continued as part of the Dominion defence scheme. Tho present-mobilisation regulations will bo remodelled and extended to suit the new establishments.

Estimated Cost. Tho sum of £300,000 will be required for the year 1910-11, with the addition of £50,000 annually for three years for equipment. A requisition, £50,000 for equipment, principally small arms and armajnent, including a sample vehicle of each form of first-line transport;to bo used as patterns, enabling further supply to bo made in the country, has gone forward. The extra cost entailed by the extension of tho training in the Territorial Force to twenty-six years of age and the provision of additional officers and N.C.O's to supply fifty-six areas approximately amount to £50,000 for 1911 -12, making:— £ For the year 1910-11 300,000 Additional for 1911-12 ' 50,000 Equipment (special for three years) 50,000 £400,000