POINTING THE WAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1177, 12 July 1911, Page 3

POINTING THE WAY.

FOR THE CITIZEN SOLDIER. • THE ARMY IX THE MOULD. For the information of tlio public in Rcnornl, tho Department of Military Operations ami Intelligence at General Heml<iuaitcrs (Lieut.-Colonel J. T. Bur-nett-Stiiait, D.5.0.), has prepared an interesting memorandum detailing the principles which are to rovovii the posting of tho youths of the Dominion to their various units. ■ By "posting" is ■mer.nl: the assigning of the , recruit to the particular regiment'or corps in which he is to do his soldiering. The memorandum sUtes:— Tho responsibilities of the posting officers will not ■end with tlio" posting of individuals to' units. The necessity for tapping the whole Dominion in such a way as to provide each soldier and cadet with an accessible centre' at which to do his ordinary drills, calls lor a more detailed arrangement. The internal organisation of units (and consequently the allotment or posting of individuals within units) must therefore be subservient to this condition. In the case of a force recruited under a system of universal home training, this implies a territorial organisation extending down to such bodies of men, however small, as can conveniently be assembled together for the periodical performance of their (kills. Training Arrangements. The training of the Territorial Force takes four distinct and progressive forms during the year—drills, half-day parade?, whole-day parade?, and the annual training in camp. Tho drills should be performed by such small bodies as will enable attent ; on to be given to the individual—in the mounted rifles by the troop, in the infantry by tlio section or squad, in the field artillery by the section, ill the garrison artillery by (he detachment, and so on. The lialt'-day and whole-day parades should be performed by tho larger bodies—by the half-squadron or squadron in the mounted rifles, by the half-company or company in the infantry, by tho battery in the field artillery, by the company in tho garrison artillery. The annual training in camp should be carried out by regiments, battalions, and similar units. The drills, half and whole-day parades, have a relative value, and are convertible, liut. the principle laid down above is that which the organisation must be designed to serve. Taking • tho strength of the Territorial force (exclusive- of the garrison and field artillery and the engineers, who have their own instructors from the. U.N.Z.A.), as being this'year approximately 22,000 men, the proportion of instructors to territorials will be about 1 to 180. Available Machinery Sufficient. Allowance has to be made on the one hand for the fact that all these officers and instructors have also certain clerical and administrative duties to perform; and that in the country districts many of the drill-centres will be difficult of access, and may in extreme cases comprise no more than u small squad of men collected either between milking-hours, or at a barn or schoolliousa in tho evening. On the other hand, some of the existing territorial officers and N.C.O.'s are fit and able to carry out the necessary instruction with only occasional help; a large portion of the force tan be conveniently trained at company or corresponding centres; and the" really inaccessible parts of (he country will be 'eliminated under the exempted-area dau-e. All things considered, the General Officer Commanding, after.a careful and personal study of. the conditions in every part of the Dominion, has come to the conclusion that '.he available machinery given judicious local arrangement and constant application on the part of rrgimental and nrPii.permnnent officials, is sufficient for the carrying out. of the training on. the lines above described. It will probably bo found that Hie svn'ior cadet drill-centres, being subject to like considerations, will'naturally coincide with tho.-e of the Territorial Force; in nny case, they should bo made to do f.o as fur as po-fible. Instructors will then be able, in the majority of outlying centres, to til in a senior cadet drill wit the holding of a drill for Territorial soldiers. Ssnior cadet companies may vary considerably in' strength; hni no company may consist of less than one officer and'thirty cadet?, and the full establishment as laid down should be aimed at as far as possible.-. It is not intended that the establishments laid down for territorial units should be rigidly adhered to. These establishments have been compiled to combine as far as possible th? requirements of each unit for war with its requirements, for training in normal times of peace. As regards war, they are final; but as regards the composition of units in peace some latitude is permissible as to the numbers of individuals pested. It must, however, be understood that no extra squadrons, companies, etc., are to be added to units without sanction from headquarters, and that the proportion or tho various ranks is constant. Maoris and Quakers, Maoris' who have registered are to be enrolled. In districts where the Native population is scattered, Maoris will be posted to squadrons and companies as individuals. -In places where there ai-e large Native settlements or pahs Maori tinops or sections will be formed as par! of. the establishment of squadrons or. companip?. Should the number of Europeans registered be sufficient to complete ills required establishment without the inclusion of Maoris, a fifth' Maori troop or section should bn formed extra, to the establishment of the squadron or company. The appointment of Maori's us N.C.O.'s ■ and the recommendation of Maoris for 'Commissions to serve with these extra troops or sections is left to the. discretion of commanding officers. All Maoris of the senior cadet age will be enrolled, posted, and trained as senior cadets.

In tlio case of cortain v.'dl-lcnown iler.omiualions, such 0..< Friends (Quakers), the posting officers will post to nou-com-Ijalaut branches without further qncstiiii. In other ca?e.-, when there is any doubt as to the authenticity oi' the claim, the posting officers will demand such fuithcr proof as they letiuive. 'i'hp Act provides that the burden of proviu;; exemption—i.e., from combatant Training— lies with the person claiming exemption; sueli proof would tike the form of a rulins froni t a 'Magistrate's Court or from a Stipendiary Ma^ittrate. Drill Centres. . Each regiment of nioiiated rifles, bftttery, engineer company, coiiipany of the medical corps, cadet company, or other unit (the boundaries for infantry battniions are already allotted) must !>s allotted its own deiinHe. boundaries within which its men aru enrolled and drilled; tho area so enclosed must, in the c-aso cf each unit, be divided up again, -and each ff|uar!ron, company, etc.. must lx , allotted its own definite boundaries -'within which its men are enrolled and drilled; affain, 'lii? area <-o enclo?jd must, in the cWp, of eich squadron and company,. be divided nji once nnj-o, fo that pv«ry troon and section is allotted its oiv'n definite boundaries witl.iin whie.li its men are pm rolled and drilled; in tho bachblocks ami thinly-popubtcd districts tho »:-ea. so enclosed may. in the ensp of eneli treon nii<l sretion, have to be tlivuled up yet asain, s.i that each ffpiad or e.rounof R dozen men have their own definite eroi and drill-cimtre; and so on, until every soldier and cadet is allotted to r>. "drillcSntrs within one hour's journey of v.'hero he lives. Whether it !:e a company, hrtlfcemnany, section, or snund centre will depend on the locnl conditions. Tt has come to the notice of the General Officer Conininiidinc during his Into tours of inspection that in many cases instructions, "such as these, issued from headquarters, h.-iTC , lint reached the subordinate members of the Permanent Staff nnd the company, etc.. commanders of the Territorial Force. He wishes particular attention to b? raid to the thorough circulation and distribution of all order? and information, and de-ires that officer? commandiriK district? slip.ll take the necessary, steps to insure that nil concerned arc mnrtc acquainted wir'i the contents ol this memorandum.