TRAINING SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2990, 30 January 1917, Page 4

TRAINING SOLDIERS

THE NEW ZEALAND SYSTEM.

Lord Northcliffe, according to fl! cabled statement, has said that the bayonet drill of tho New Zealand soldiers is not thoroughly Hip-to-date. Re-, ferring to this matter yesterday, tho Minister of Defence (tho Hon. <L Allen) said that tho bayonet instruction given in the training camps in this country had been progressively improved during the period of tho war, and had been kept as closely in line as possible with the training given in. the British camps, where the lessons of the war were applied. The Defence Department had not been satisfied with written instructions and advice. It had brought back to New Zealand trained and experienced men, in. order that they might impart to tho recruits in tho camps tho special knowledge they' had acquired themselves in Britain and. Prance. The Minister added that ho did not think anything had been left undone to ensure that the training given in the Now Zealand camps was as modern and practical as it could bo made. The training period was 6hort,but the groundwork was laid soundly and well, and the results had pleased those most competent to judge. The Minister added that it was not proposed to shorten the training period! in New Zealand. The training covered! four months, from which deductions had to be made for leave, and during that time tho recruits had to bo- set up and developed physically, taught habit* of discipline and military routine, drilled and trained in the use of the rifle and the bayonet. The additional training that was given in the United Eingdom before the men proceeded to tho front was of a specialised; character, and was meant to bo supplementary to the instruction given previously. The training in New Zealand had tho additional advantage of discovering tho men who had physical weaknesses, and so saving the expenses . of sending them around tho world. The fact that in spite of the severe testa in New Zealand somo men did break down after they Lad reached the war area was proof that the training period was none too long.