COASTAL BATTERIES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 72, 18 December 1937, Page 13

COASTAL BATTERIES

Special Reserve Trainees At Work FRESH GROUPS NEXT YEAR A further batch of artillery special reserve trainees for Auckland and Wellington will be called for in February, according to an announcement by Major-General J. E. Duigan, C. 8., D. 5.0., chief of the general staff, after he had inspected the reservists in training at Fort Dorset yesterday and watched them carry out a practice shoot.

About 70 men would be required at Auckland and 75 at Wellington, Said Major-General Duigan, and further groups would probably go into training in May and September. In each ease the training would extend over three months, and would include practical training on guns of the type used on the coastal defences. A number would be selected, as in the case of the present trainees, to replace the wastage in the Royal New Zealand Artillery. The rest would return to private life, but would be required to attend ten-day courses each year for three years, and to present themselves for service in case of emergency.

Major-General Duigan expressed pleasure at the appearance and work of the 34 men in training at Fort Dorset. They have done coastal artillery work, gunnery, physical drill, rifle exercises and musketry, A comparison of the records shows that they have received considerable benefit physically, there being substantial increases in weight and other measurements. In addition those who desired have attended night classes at the Wellington Technical College with a view to employment on the completion of their training. One man is working for the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Battery Practice.

The keenness with which the men carried out the practice shoot, assisted by trained personnel of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, was impressive. There w r as less gun-shyness than might have been expected for the first handling of the guns, and a satisfactory degree of efficiency with the rangefinding equipment. ■ The Government steamer Janie Seddon towed the target first at about 5000 yards and later at about 4000 yards. Two direct hits were scored at the longer distance. For the shorter the gun-sight range-finders were used.

A further appeal to employers to consider the men as suitable applicants for work was made by Major-General Duigan. Their period under strict discipline, he said, must make them better citizens and better workers. He hoped also that employers would be liberal in granting leave to territorials to attend camp training.