TERRITORIAL FORCE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 121, 15 February 1941, Page 12

TERRITORIAL FORCE

Advanced Training 12,000 MEN TO TAKE PART Fortnight’s Exercises .Arrangements made by the Government for brigade and advanced training by men of the Territorial Force were announced last evening by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. Units which carried out their original three months’ intensive training at the end of last year are to participate in a further series of exercises extending over 14 days between April 7 and June 10.

Mr. Jones said that further steps to bring the Territorial Force to a high state of efficiency had been decided upon by the Government. “Considerable progress has already been wade in this respect.” said the Minister. “The larger portions of the field force completed their three months’ training toward the end of December, concluding with brigade manoeuvres extending over a week, and in circumstances approximating as nearly as possible to active service conditions. The units concerned had reached a standard of efficiency which was highly satisfactory.

"Units which did not carry out their three months’ training in October-De-cember. 1940, are now either in camp or about to enter camp in the next two or three weeks. The formations composed of these units will carry out field exercises of about 10 days’ duration during the latter part of March. These exercises will be carried out separately in the three military districts, the total number involved being approximately 12,000 all ranks. Exercises in Each District.

■ "The Government has now decided to carry out in each district a further series of exercises extending over 14 days between April 7 and June 10, 1941. The troops involved in each district will number slightly more than 4000. and will comprise units who carried out their original three months’ intensive training in October-December, 1940.

“I feel sure,” concluded Mr. Jones, “that on completion of this training all concerned will have reached a state of efficiency which would enable the Territorial Force, if the necessity arose, to go to war as a fighting machine and render an excellent account of itself.

“With the operation of the bailor for overseas service, a proportion of the Territorial Force will be withdrawn for service overseas. The effect that this will have on the Territorial Force has been foreseen, and the necessary troops to keep territorial units up to their war establishment will be forthcoming as the result of a programme of training reinforcements for these units progressively for three months throughout the year; the numbers being based on the transfer of personnel from the territorial to the expeditionary force.”