OUR MILITARY FORCES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1021, 10 January 1911, Page 7

OUR MILITARY FORCES.

« AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT. DETAILS OF THE REORGANISATION. ; REGISTRATION TO BE COMPLETED BY 1 JUNE 30, TRANSFORMATION TO BE GRADUAL. Wo have received from tho Adjutant owl Quartermaster-General of the New Zealand Forces (Colonel A. W. Robin, C.11.),-a copy of an. important statement on the subject of tho reorganisation of the ■'Forces, which has been prepared for tho information of - officers commanding military, districts and tho public .generally. For the purposes of tho new organisation, tho Dominion has been divided into four . military districts —Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury-and-Nelson, and Otago. Each district is subdivided into area groups—each group furnishing one infantry battalion and a proportion of mounted men—and these, again, are subdivided into areas. Tho boundaries of the area groups and tho areas, as stated , .hereunder, aro approximate only, being subject to modification, by officers commanding districts, to suit local require- . meats. Adjutants and Instructors, The training of the. 28 officers and 28 non-commissioned officers who have been selected on probation as adjutants and instructors respectively, and who went - into camp oh Saturday last at Featherston, will be completed on or about March 10 next. In additiou to these, 33 ser-geants-major, at present employed as stairinstructors of the Permanent Force, are also attending camp. When their training is completed, 50 of these warrant and N.C.O.Vwfll be placed in chargß of areas, one to each of the 56 areas into which the Dominion is divided. This arrangement will continue until eventually tho areas can be officered by graduates from the Military College. The 28 officers will be employed as adjutants of the 16 infantry battalions and 12 mounted rifle regiments,. which are to -be formed in the proportion of four battalions and threo mounted regiments to each district. Each infantry adjutant will be in charge of the area group from which his battalion is drawn, and will be assisted, in those of his areas from which a mounted regiment is recruited, by' the adjutant of that regiment. All group area officers and area warrant and non-commissioned officers, will bo 'under the general control of tho . officers commanding tho districts. Registration and Proclamation. Tho first duty of'these officers and war- * rant and non-commissioned officers, on being;posted to their groups and areas, will, be to commence the registration and recruiting necessary to bring the Territorial Force on to its new establishment, and to organise the training of the General Training Section," and Senior Cadets, as required by the.Defence Act. Their training in the Feather.ston camp will include instruction in tho carrying out of'these duties. _ Registration is to be completed by June 30, 1911, when tho necessary quotas required -to complete the Territorial Forco will be declared, and tho training, of those not called upon to serve in the Territorial \Force will be put into operation.- A copy of the proclamation giving effect to the Act is to be issued forthwith. - -■ ' .. Some Important Points, In the meantime, officers; commanding ' .districts will take : steps to . ensure that the following points are understood by all concerned'throughout their districts: — (a.). That' young men who ■ were over. -18 and under 21 years of age on November 2, 1910, maj-, if passed as physically fit, ; ,'at once and without waiting>fdriieieetioh,. volunteer to,join the Territorial unit of the branch in which they wish to serve, nearatt to their > place of residence; it being understood' that those; who do" not serve in..the Territorial Forca will bo trained , in the general training section when the .registration is completed. . (b.) That all officers, warrant officers,-non-commissioned officers, and men w}io wore over the age of 21 on November 2, 1910, and are serving in the volunteers, may if they so desire, continuo to serve in the Territorial Force until tho establishments aro completed and maintained by' the automatic action of tho quota system. The Transition Period. The process of transforming tho volunteer into the Territorial Force must bo gradual, and the continuation in tho service for tho next three or four years of those now serving is most desirable, especially. because ••— (a.) Many units are still burdened wii . liabilities which must be paid off. ; ■ (b.) The exemption of all men who at-.' tained.-their twent.v-frst birthday on So- : . vember 2 last will fill the forco with' very-young men. (c.) It will bo some time before full effect can-be given to the system of registration and the new regulations. (d.) Those now serving who would become entitled to long-service decorations within the next three or four years will be able to earn them. Capitation Grants, \ It has been decided to continue .the pre- . , sent system of capitation graiits for the; [ financial year 1911-12, to enable. liabili-; ties to be paid off as.far as possible. Officers commanding districts aro to warn; 1 the officers commanding all corps and , -units now receiving capitation grants that they must preparo by March 31 next a t clear report of the financial position of . their respective units, together wi'.li a ! correct statement of the revenue and exI penditure of those units for I'io year . 1910-11, and be'prepared to produce the , same, with all books and receipts, lor in--1 spection and report by the aud't officers. , i'his audit will be held during April and ; May next, and annually t'"erea(ta' as . laid. down in Section 10 oi - the Defence t Act of 1910, tho. object being ro facilitate 3 the liquidation of liabilities' by the end of the financial year. 1911-12,. ir'ler which 5 date, clothing and -equipment will b'.- issued by the Defence Department to- units 3 in kind. - It must be' distinctly nnderatoti that , the capitation grants for tho wivs 1310-tl, 3 1911-12, are only-to be devoted to il:e liquidation of debts incurred in st'.ict ac- . cordanco with the conditions under which the capitation grants we;e made. No part of such grants is to bo used for paying off debts incurred by unauthorised expenditure or expenditure, not approve! ty i audit. Organising the Brigiies. t . Given the approximate Mundaries " of 3 area-groups ana areas, and 111; number t and nature of tho units 'o bo furnished and maintained in each district, it :e----mains with officers commanding districts to arrange what existing units in their, district shall be amalgamiwl or disbanded, and how and where the new units shall bo raised, so as to produce tho required establishment. ]". r. instance, in the Otago dis : rict, the-four battalions of infantry now oxisiing will . form, the Otago Infantry Brigade. -One regiment of mounted rifles must ye raised to form the Otago Mounted Riflo Lrignde. o In tho Caulcrbury and Nelson district, r the amalgamation of the two Christchnrcli - City Battalions will complete one batt.il- - ion, the present South Canterbury be- ' comincr another, and the Nelson group . providing a third. A fourth will be raiso ed in the group north of Christchnrcli to complete the Canterbury Infantry Bri- ; gade. Tlie present three regiments of ' mounted' rifles will be amalgamated _ lo .form first and second regiments, the Ncl- . son regiment to form the third, completing the Canterbury Mounted Rifle Brigade. 11l the Wellington district the necessary amalgamations li.ive been effected to complete the Wellington Infantry Brigade and the Wellington Mounted Rifle Brigade. In the Auckland district, one battalion in Auckland Qly and one battalion in the Thames at present, exist, leaving one battalion remaining to bo " formed north of Auckland, and one battalion in the south and west croup to if complete the Auckland Infantry Brigade, i- Tho four regiments of Mounted Rifles will he reformed into three regiments to complete the Auckland Mounted Rifle Brigade. Other Corps. The field battery at each centre, the 1 divisions of garrison artillery at Auckland

and Welling/on, and one company garrison artillery at Canterbury and Otago respectively are to bo brought on to the required establishment. Tho cyclo and signalling companies at each of the four centres will form the nuclei of the infantry brigade signal companies,' the signal. companies for the mounted brigades to be formed at suilaWo centres in each district. The field ambulance company at each of the four centres is to become the field ambulance to tho infantry brigade. A mounted brigade field ambulance will be formed at suitable centres in each district. Mounted brigade and mixed brigade supply columns will also bo formed a l , suitable centres in the district. It is not. expected that any decision , as to the most suitable centres in which to raise the second field battery, transport and supply columns, mounted sig- ; nnl and ambulance companies, can be . arrived at until registration is completed. THE SCHEME ON THE MAP. I GROUPS AND AREAS. 1 An appendix to the foregoing statement sots forth the details of the sub- • division of New Zealand for the purpose I of military organisation and administra- , tion. They aro as'follow :— | Note.—The term "land district" or t "land districts" iu reference to . tho said military districts, means a "land district" J or "land districts" constituted uuder The Land Act, 1892. The "groups" are . numbered 1 to 18, and the areas 1 to 50. ■ Groups 1 to 4, comprising l areas 1 to'l6, ; are in the Auckland district, and Groups 13 to 10, comprising areas 45 to SG, are in ' the Otago district. These two districts are, for reasons of space, not particularis- ■ ed as to their boundaries, details only of tho boundaries of'the -Wellington military district and tho Nelson-and-Canterbury district being given. . i Wellington. ; . Wellington Military District.—Compris- ' ing the land districts of Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki, with head- • quarters at tho City .of Wellington. No; 5 Group—City Electoral Districts , of ■■ Wellington North, Wellington Cen- . tral, Wellington Bast, Wellington South, [ Wellington Suburbs, Hutt, Otaki, south of Paraparanmu, and Wairarapa, south ' of a line running S.E. from' Cross Creek [ to mouth of Pahaoa River. , r Areas (in .No. 5 Group.—(l 7) Electoral , Distriots of Wellington Central, and that . portion of Wellington East north of ■ Ellico Street; (18) Electoral District of i Wellington North, following portions of i Suburbs, Electoral Districts ICarori, : Makara, Kaiwarra,: Wadestown, Ngaio, . Ivhandallah, Johnsonville, Tawa . Flat, i Ngahauranga; (19) Electoral District of ■ Wellington South, arid following portions . of Electoral Districts of Suburbs:—lsland . Bay, Kilbirnie, Miraniar, Scatoun, Mara- ' nui. Melrose; (20) Electoral Districts 1 of Hutt,' Otaki, south of Paraparaumu, Wairarapp, south of a lino S.E.. from . Cross Creek to mouth of Pahaoa River.' No. 6 Group.—Electoral Districts of Wanganui, Palmerston North, Oroua, Manawatu, Otaki, north of Paraparaumu, Rangitikei, south of lino joining Mahirikiri, Mangamahu, Ohingaiti. in No. 6 Group.—(2l) Electoral Districts of' Wanganui and Rangitikei west of Whangehu River arid .so'utli of lino joining Makirikiri, Manmahu; (22) Electoral Districts of Palmerston North, Oroua, south of lino , joining Halcombe. Cheltenham,' Pohangina;, (23) Electoral Districts of Manawatu, north of Rangitikei River.and Oroua, north of. line joinin" Halcombe, Cheltenham, Pohangina; ' (21) Electoral Districts of Manawatu, I =outh of Rangitikei River and Otaki, ' north of lino joining Paraparaumu, i Cross Creek. • No. 7 Group.—Electoral Districts of, ' Gisborne, Nfipipr City, Hawlws Baj, Waipawa. Pahiatua, Masterton,rapa, north of a lino running S.K from. Cross Creek to mouth of Pahaoa River. _ . - Areas in No. 7 Group.-(2o) Electoral. ■ Districts of Napier-and Bawko-s Bayj- : (26) Electoral'.Districts of' Watpawa and' .- Pahiatua ; (27) Electoral Districts,. of, I Masterton, Wairarapa, north of a line . running S.E. from Cross Creek to moinh of Pahaoa River; (2S) Electoral District , t'of Gisborne.. p. r . - ' r No 8 Group.—Electoral Districts of Taranaki, Egmont,- Stratford, I'atea, Tau- ; marunui, south, of a lino running duo east from mouth of Mokau-Rivw to Lake Tauuo. Rangitikei,. north of lino joining Makirikiri, Mangamahu, Ohingaiti. Areas in No. 8 Group.-{29) Electoral ' Districts of Taranaki and that portion of Taumarunui within ten miles ofAV est Coast; (30) Electoral Districts of Stratford and that portion of Egniont,. north of a - lino ioining Eltham and Onunake (mcludi ing these, nlacosl; (31) Electoral District- ■ of Patea and that portion .of Egniout i south of -a. line joining .Elthani Onunako'; (32) Electoral District of .Rangi-, tikei, north .if a line'MakinKin,-Mannar mahau, Ohingaiti,, c.nd Taumarunui, south of a lino running due east from . mouth of Mokau River to Lake raupo, ' but excluding that portion within ten • miles of West Coast ' Canterbury "and Nelson. . Canterbury and Nelson District.—Com- " prising the "land, .districts of Canterbury, Nelson and find tliut poition of the land district of ■Marlborough; lying .' to the north and, south of the Clarence River, with headquarters at Christchurcli. 1 No 9 Group.—Commencing at appoint ■ at tho mouth' of the Waimakariri River, thenco following the south hank of the • river .to west' boundary of- the A\ aimairi. 1 County, thenco southwards along the west. I boundary of tho said county to its interppction with Yaldhurst Eoad, tlienco bj Yaldhurst to-tho Hornby Road to Horn- ■ by Railway Station, thence by railway - line to Green Park Railway Station, I thenco bv a line-due south to the sea coast, following round tho sea coast to ; tho starting-point at the mouth of the !: Waimaliariri River. ' i' Areas in No. 9 Group.—(33 and 31) City |. and Suburbs; (35) balance of No. 1 Sub- . division. ... ' f No. 10 Group—Commencing at - the mouth of-the Waitaki River and following the boundary of tho Canterbury Land ' District.generally westerly and northerly to Arthur's Pass, thence by the MidJ lnnd Railway" line to Darfield Railway " station, thence southerly by a road line j of R.S. 19216 to tho Hawkins and Clinton Road, thenco' south-easterly by tho Haw- ® kins and Clinton Road to its intersection 3 with the Greendalo Road, thenco by tho J Greendalo Road to its intersection with 1 the Great South Road, thenco by tho 1 Great South, Road to tho bank of the ' Rakain Riv.er, thenco-by tho Rakaiaßiver s to the const, thenco by the sea coast to . tho point .of commencement. - Areas in No. 10 Group.—Commencing ■ at the mouth of the Waitaki River and 3 following the boundary of tho Canterbury • I,and District generally westerly, and nor--1 therly' to ' Mount Cook, thenco in a 3 straight line to tho Thumbs Peak, thence " in a straight lino to the source of the " Opihi River, thence'by tho Opihi River ' to the sea "coast, thence by tho sea coast to the point of commencement; (37) commencinl; at the mouth of tho Opihi River f and following the N.E. boundary of No. t 1 Area to Mount' Cook, thence by the 1 westerly boundary of -the Canterbury , Land District to Baker Peak, thence by s the Clydo and Rangitata River to the i- sea. coast, thence by. the sea coast to the point of coi"incitement; the balance ot v Subdivision No.-2. P No. 11 Grouu—i'he balance of the Canterbury Land "District : .»d the. whole of r the Marlborough Land District. ... I \i-eas iu No. 11 Group. Commencing at p the mouth of the Rakain River and folrt lowing the north boundary of Subdivision , No. 2 to Arthur's Pass, thenco along - the west boundary of the Canta'bury u Land District to Harper's Tass thenco L easterly in n direct line to. Peak, thenco to the source ot the ninkii ;; River, thenco by the Okuku and Ashley 1 Rivers to tho sen, thence by tho sea r const to the mouth of tho \\ aimakanri ■ River and west boundary ot Subdivision If' No. 1 to the sea, thence by the sea coas. '' to the noint of commencement; (10) the ,° balance "of the Canterbury Land District. " north of Area No. 1 (41) the whole oi the !" Marlborough Land District. No. 12 Groun.—Comprising the .\elson -ind Westland Land Distrii i?. • \rcas in N T o. 12 (Iron p.—(-12) Commenc•v ing at the mouth of tho Mokihinui River, ,' 1 ) thence northerly and easterly by the sea coast to the west boundary ot Mar!|C l'iornu"h Land District, thence along the t. boundary of the said .Laud District to 10 Beeby's Knob,- thence ui a straight linn lo tlie point of commencement; (13) coni--0 niencing at Point Elizabeth, thenco by the sea'const to Mokihinui River, tiicnco - s in -i straWit. line to Beebv's Knob, thenco 0 bv'liie western boundaries of the Mai-l-ie borough anil Canterbury I.nnd Districts lo Harper's Pass, thcncc in a straight lino to "the point of commencement; UI) le the balance pf H'* V • " • l Laud Disiii tiict north of Area