DEFENCE NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 139, 7 March 1936, Page 24

DEFENCE NOTES

News of Rank and File COLLEGE CADETS HOLD ANNUAL CAMP I By Liaison. ) The HongotiV College cadets yesterday completed their annual barraeks. Except for Tuesday I lie weather was very kind, and a good week's work lias been done. The artillery section, under Lieutenant l,anil)ourii(‘, put io the week's training at Fort Dorset, and the boys were trained in “guii-layiiig,” "fort manning,” “signalling,” ilnd ail the general duties of a garrisoii gunner. The renininder of the corps paraded on the school grounds and received instruction in infantry drill, ritle exoi’c'ises, mtisketi'y mid physical ti'lihiitig, tinder tlieir own idlicei's and N.C.O.X who were assisted by permanent force 'u* struetors. The final event of the week was a march-past by the whole corps. The principal of the college, Major F. Martyn Renner, T.D., took the salute. Taranaki Regiineiit. The Taranaki Regiment is busily preparing for the consecration and presentation of its new colours, which will take place at I’akekura Park, New Plymouth, on Sunday. March 22. IDs Excellency the Governor-General will present the colours to the regiment, and Archdeacon Gavin will perform the consecration ceremony. The regiment assembles for its annual camp at New Plymouth on March 16, and the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colon-el S, F. Varnham, anticipates a full attendance. For the presentation ceremony on Sunday, March 22, special trains and buses are being run from as far afield as Wanganui. No doubt a large attendance of Taranaki people will be steen at Ptikekura on that afternoon. Artillery. The officers and N.C.O.’s of the Nineteenth Medium Battery weht into camp at Waipukurau bn February 25 for a three dayb' course of special instruction prior to the battery arriving on February 29 for its annual camp training. After the first day the weather cleared up and eil* abled good progress to be made. On Thursday apd yesterday the battery carried out ite annual shoot with live shell as a skeleton brigade Under brigade control. The brigade commander, Lieutenant-Colonel R. W. Fenton, was in command. A detachment of the Corps of Signals was at* tached to the battery. Good work was done and much useful experience gained.' Major-General Sir AV. Sinclair-Burgess, K.8.E., C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., inspected the battery yesterday.

Mobility. The infantryman, having lost his tactical mobility with the advent of massed machine guns, can only regain it partially by rapid movement by night or through difficult coinitry. Mechanical transport has increased the strategical mobility of cavalry by taking Weight off the horse, says a critic. Fifteen years of hard thought have resulted in the removal of the greatcoat from the infantryman's* pack. This has been balanced by giving him a steel helmet and a gas mask. While striving to train the real ‘‘light Infantryman” we find be is handicapped by a battle burden of 551 b. One can scarcely expect a loan of sft. 4in.—weighing himself perhaps 4401b.—t0 make the. best use of his brains and bis weapons when he has to carry a load of four atones on liis person. By cutting down to what is absolutely essential for an infrintryinah in battle, tills load could be reduced to about 441 b. Air Expansion.

Now the first excitement of the sudden and vast expansion scheme for the R.A.F. is over we may well survey the first effects, says “The Fighting Force.” As might have been expected, it now apears the pace Is rather too 'hot. This affects both personnel and machines. It is only natural that the greatest difficulty is being experienced in finding sufficient instructors and officers of requisite efficiency. In time this will right itself. In the meanwhile the shortage has been met to some extent by extending the engagements of a number of short aud medium service officers and extending the age limits for retirement of permanent officers iu the more junior ranks, Undoubtedly these expedients are a boon to many short-service officers as well as to those on the permanent list who viewed with apprehension the prospect of a race between Anno Domini and promotion that may prove to be a nonstarter. Ou the other hand, others who had expected early promotion have been disappointed, for the aged have blocked the way. In the end, though, all are bound to benefit just as the navy did iu those palmy days of expansion early in the century. In the meantime the country is entitled to ask whether it is getting its full money’s worth. Now we have three lighting services and an inevitable fluctuation of policy requiring, as conditions change, at one time uu immense navy, at another —perhaps—a huge army, and, as at present, a vast air force, and it is pertinent to inquire whether it would not be possible to transfer superfluous officers in one service to another that is short-hand-ed. At prpsent we see the strange paradox of the British Empire teeming with retired naval and military officers in the prime of life receiving retired pay while the air force is at its wits' cud to get the right material. Many of the retired officers, we maintain, would be only too glad to serve for a spell with their youngcst ssister service. This infusion of fresh blood, possessing perhaps a wider outlook, would greatly benefit a force which is in danger of losing its soul iu a welter of technical details and machinery. Turning flow from men to machines, we see another almost inevitable consequence of this sudden expansion. In order to cope with the situation huge quantities of machines were ordered. Both from the taxpayer’s and aeronaut's point of view it is maddening to reflect that many of these machines will be obsolescent, if not positively obsolete, almost before they are delivered. League Principles. The time has arrived when every thoughtful military enthusiast should understand the principles of the League of Nations. What are these principles 7 Briefly put, the aim of the covenant is to supersede the old international anarchy by an agreed aud enforced international law. Forms of international law have, of Tourse, existed for generations, but, prior to the inauguration of the League -of Nations, these forma consisted of specified agreements between particular nations or groups of nations and neither held nor implied general application or implication. Tlie covenant, upon the other hand, seeks to impose upon the states members, and ultimately upon the world, accepted and definite standards of principle and international behaviour, by placing upon such members obligations for the enforcement of its rules. Though by no means the first time in history that such au idea has captured the imagination of the rulers of the world, the League is the first real attempt to translate such an idea into practical politics—the first attempt, that ie, to outlaw war as an instrument of national policy, to make security ana defence n mutual obligation and to transfer the use of armed force from chaotic struggles to the support of an existing legal structure. Here is the preamble to the covenant: — “The high contracting parties:— "In order to promote international co-operation, and to achieve international peace and security. “By the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war; “By the prescription of open, just and honourable relations between nations; “By the firm establishment ot the understandings of international law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments; and “By the maintenance ot justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty . obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another — “Agree to this covenant of the League of Nations.”