TERRITORIAL FORCE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 136, 5 March 1941, Page 5

TERRITORIAL FORCE

Advanced Training Arrangements (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, March 4. Territorials who are at present in camp or who completed their three months’ intensive training before December 31 will be required to do a further period of training within the next few months. Amplifying his previous announcement to this effect, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, said that the extra training will take the form of field exercises or manoeuvres with the object of exercising commanders, staffs and leaders and of giving (all ranks practice with other units, arms and services. About 9500 men of the northern and southern districts and the Ai'my Reserve. who are qt present undergoing tiaining, together with detachments of Scottish battalions, will start manoeuvres during this month, the southern district from Sunday next till March 20 and the northern district from March 18 to 28. Those Territorial units which completed their intensive training before the end of December will go into camp during April, May and June. Men of the southern district will carry out exercises from April 7 to 21, the central district from May 1 to .14, and the northern district from May 24 to June C More than 12,000 men will be involved in these manoeuvres.

Six mounted rifle regiments and one motor regiment at present undergoing training, which are not included in these exercises, will carry out brigade training from May 18 to 31. The number of men involved in the three districts is 3877, Further units and detachments ’ of the Territorial Force will be entering camp for three months’ intensive training on April 1, and on the first of each succeeding month drafts to complete all territorial units to strength will enter camp. So far as the training of seasonal workers is concerned, the majority of men called up for training from April onward will be those required to make up loss of strength of units occasioned by wastage which has occurred from various causes. Seasonal workers who are called up to attend training will have an opportunity of submitting their individual applications to a manpower committee to defer training as required. The only other occasion where seasonal workers are likely* to be called up will be for 14 or 18 days’ annual camp and, apart from exceptional cases, this should not cause inconvenience.