DEFENCE NOTES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 287, 31 August 1935, Page 24

DEFENCE NOTES

News of Rank and File

ON PARADE AND OFF Earl Roberts Trophy

(By

Laiason).

Experience has proved that little regular outdoor training can be carried out during tho middle school term. This period is therefore devoted to classes for N.C.O.’s and the finishing of the weapontraining courses. Classes are also held in preparation for the officers’ examinations, held during the winter vacation. The Earl Roberts Imperial Cadet Trophy eliminations have resulted iu St. Patrick's (Silver-stream) College again representing the Central Command. The elimination shoot was carried out at Trentbam on July 29, the day being fine, but a strong, bleak southerly wind. Under these conditions the shoot put up was of a very creditable nature. The award of the following medai* has been approved: Major T. G. Hislop, Ist Cadet Bn., N.Z. Service Medal (12 years) ; ruieut. J. T. MeCaw, 2nd Cadet Bn., N.Z. Service Medal (12 years), N.Z. Long and Efficient Service Medal (16 years). Medical Corps.

The 2nd Field Ambulance lias now resumed its fornightly parades at the Garrison Hall after the finishing of its course of instruction at the Wellington Hospital. Sixteen men were successful in passing the examination in elementary nursing, and to those of this number who have completed the requisite two years’ service certificates are to be awarded.

The officer commanding the Central Military Command, Col. I. T. Standish, C.M.G., D. 5.0., R.N.Z.A., made his annual inspection of the unit on August 14. In expressing his satisfaction at the general turn-out he complimented the men on the regularity of their attendance. The syllabus of training this year provides for advanced instruction to those members of over two years’ service. The programme of lectures includes such subjects as physiology, elementary anatomy, military sanitation and hygiene and military law. The junior section provides les s advanced training for the recruits, but is equally interesting and instructive.

Flying Boats. One of the chief causes of controversy between Navy and Air Force is the vexed question of the control of flying boats. A special correspondent of “The Times,” commenting on the combined fleet exercise, called attention to what be considered the curious anomaly that flying boats do not form part of the Fleet Air Arm, but come directly under the R.A.F. fop manning and administration. “The Navy,” he complained, “with which they would work entirely in war, seem to have no say in their provision, distribution or employment.”

Tlie trouble is, of course, that flying boats must have a base from which to operate and to which to return on conclusion of their operations. Ship-borne aircraft have a carrier or other ship as their floating base, but such a bnse is out of the question in the case of flying boats, says “The Fighting Forces.” The endurance of flying boats, though certainly exceeding that of ship-borne aeroplanes, must still lie measured in hours, not in days. They are not yet sufficiently robust or seaworthy to be able to rely absolutely on refuelling operations at sea, nor to be sure of safe alighting or taking off under all conditions in the open sea. They cannot accompany the fleet indefinitely at sea; their employment for fleet work must therefore be confined to the “narrow waters,” when the fleet is itself operating at such distance from the coast as is within the effective radius of the flying boats from their base. This base need not necessarily be a fully equipped permanent station —flying boats are sufficiently self-contained to be able to operate from any temporary advanced base which may be improvised at short notice, but the necessity for the base remains. As to the claim that flying boats should work entirely with the Navy in war, this is obviously an over-statement. The size and endurance of flying boats, with their alternative capacity for carrying heavy loads, their comparative independence of elaborate ground organisation, and ability to operate from extemporised bases; their adaptability for flying over land or water; these are the attributes which make these craft so valuable for many forms of warfare other than purely naval operations.