THE DEFENCE FORCES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2806, 26 June 1916, Page 6

THE DEFENCE FORCES

TERRITORIAL ARMY A YEAR OF HARD WORK Tho annual report of tho Defence Department was laid on the table •of tho House immediately prior to the rising of the Chamber on Saturday morning. In his report Brigadier-General Sir A. W. Robin draws attention to tho fact that in spite of the strain upon the Department on account of tho training'and dispatch of Reinforcomonts, the training of the Territorials had been continued efficiently. Without the Territorial system it is certain, he says, that the Expeditionary Force dispatcUed to occupy Samoa, the. Main Force, and reinforcements would not havo been so efficiently dispatched and maintained. It is to tn'e credit of the commercial, pastoral, and farming industries that, despite the 6train of enlistment for service abroad, they have so well supported the annual training of the Territorial Forces during, this time of stress. Tho discipline of these Territorial training camps has been very good indeed.

Good Work Recognised. "I specially desire to bring to your notice," ho adds, "tho excellent and continued devotion to duty displayed by tho Chief of the General Staff and all ranks of tho Defence Department—military, civil, and temporary—including such important sections as the Supply Board of Advice, Transport Board, Base Records, War Accounts Branch, shipping, embarkation, and disembarkation staffs, camp and barrack construction, etc., in w.hicn are so many capable voluntary workers'. The mutual harmonious co-operation existing between all sections wholly accounts for the efficient manner in which tho present strenuous duties are.carried out. Tho officers in temporary command of the four military districts are deserving of groat consideration for the manner in.which they have administered their command. The Dominion is also fortunate in having"two excellent officers to command at Trentham and Featherston training camps, with very efficient and capable training staffs." Dealing with details of the service, the report states that "discipline is improving, but much remains to be done in this direction.. Particularly is this the case with saluting—that \ great test of discipline without the observance of which no army can bo said to be disciplined and therefore efficient." ' For More Efficient Training.

During ,tho coming year it is intended to devote particular attention to the instruction of junior officers and non-com-missioned ofliceTS. This is essential if they are to give useful instruction to their men. By a careful system of elementary training it is hoped that a high standard of collective training will ultimately bo arrived at. So far as is possible, (it is hoped to bring officers and non-commissioned officers into training camps for short courses of instruction. These officers will be selected from amongst those who arc unable to offer their services to the Territorial Forces. The present has shown the extreme desirability of souud individual efficiency and a high standard of discipline. Without both these essentials a battalion becomes valueless in the field. All efforts will, therefore, bo concentrated upon attaining a high standard of efficiency and discipline, for which the foundation undoubtedly exists.

With iv view to organising the Territorial medical services on a proper basis it is recommended that a medical officer be appointed on the headquarters staff as director-general, with rank of colonel, and that a deputy-director of medical services be obtained from the R.A.M.C., with rank of lientenant-colouel, to' assist the above, and tour and lecture in camps. Also, .that a deputy-assistant director of military services be attached to each district as sanitary officer, in order to bring the organisation into lino with tho Imperial system.

A medical officers' training corps i 3 being' organised at the Otago University, on the same footing n= those in the universities in Great Britain, to enable medical students to take their places as properly-trained medical officers when their services as such are required. I ' Fads and Figures. There are .now 246 rifle clubs in the Dominion, with a strength of 7928. All the clubs, says the report, have evinced a patriotic endeavour to help the Dominion, and have in many ways given expression to this desire. During the year, it is added, the General Training Section has been drafted into Territorial units so far as has been found possible. Experience has shown the extreme difficulty of keeping trace of men belonging to.-this section. On tho subject of Cadets, tho report states: "Tho discipline and efficiency of the Senior Cadets have in many .cases shown a great improvement, and the interest taken in the work has been most praiseworthy. The steadiness and efficiency of many of the companies show that all ranks are aiming at a creditable standard." • There are at present twenty staff ..cadets from New Zealand at the Royal Military College of Australia. Ten of these joined this' year. The New Zealand Cadets are holding their own, and have shown up very well at the college. One staff cadet of tho 1915 batch is top of his year at the college, and another is third. The strength of the New Zealand Forces on April 30, 1916, was: Territorial Force, 26,839; Senior Cadets, 27,063; General Training Section, 3437; rifle clubs, 7928; .total, 65,267. .