DEFENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 112, 13 May 1910, Page 3

DEFENCE.

territorial organisation, ' Wellington" district. Details of the organisation, and estab"* lishment ot the new Defence Force are given in this week's Gazette. Tho f-trenßth of the Wellington district force, will be :—: — Tota». Strongtilgr Garrison Aitillery .. ... 300 Mounted rifle brigade (3 regiments) ... „ 1059 Mounted supply column ... 42 Mounted field ambulance ... 39 Field artillery brigade .*.. 337 Field engineer company ... 212 Infantry brigade (4 battalions) 2840 Infantry signalling company ... 42 Infantry supply column (mixed) 43 Field ambulance 76 Mounted brigade signalling company 24 Total- SIO4 The maximum establishment of the Wellington district under the recent regulations was 4781 officers and men, the number enrolled being 3863. The following new companies will be formed :— Mounted Supply Column, Mounted Field Ambulance, Second Field Artillery Battery and Ammunition Column, Infantry Supply Column, and Mounted Signalling Company. As only three regiments of mounted rifles are required for the district, and as there are now four in existence, this will necessitate the amalgamation of two of the existing regiments. The battalions of infantry in the Wellington district are to be reduced from five to four, necessitating an amalgamation of two battalions. It is intended to form another battery of field artillery in the 'Wellington district, and to organise an ammunition column. Under the new arrangements li^re will be subdivisions of the military districts in each island, making eight in each island. In the Wellington district there will be a city and three country areas. The mounted rifle brigade wiit be drawn from the country districts. The field artillery brigade and the ammunition column will be drawn partly from the country and partly from Wellington City. Wellington City is also expected to supply the field engi-, neer company, the infantry signalling company, the mixed infantry supply column, and field ambulance. The infantry brigade will be made up partly, from the cit> and partly from the' country areas. It is not intended to start recruiting immediately, as there is a great deal of preliminary work yet to be done. The capitation allowance to battalion and regiments is to be £3 per man.