HOME DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 140, 10 December 1918, Page 3

HOME DEFENCE

TERRITORIALS AND SENIOR -> CADETS

TOTAL STRENGTH 60,853

The strength of the Territorial Force snd Senior Cadets and their training and discipline are specially referred to by Major-General Sir A. W. Robin, General Officer Commanding the Forces, in hie report upon the work of 1 the Defence Department for the year ended 31st Marcli.last. The strength of the New Zealand Defence Forces on th«'3lst March, 1918. "-as as under : — Territorial Force ■ 22,933 Senior' Cadets 30,668 Rifle Club-, ..'.....; 7,252 Total 60,853 As was 'he case last year, all members of the General Training Section have been posted to the Territorial Force. The^ above figure* do not include members of. the Territorial Force who are absent on service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. During the past three years of war (proceeds General Robin) the training of the Territorial and Cadet Forces lias been continued, notwithstanding many severe handicaps and increased difficulties of varied kinds. Not the least of these has been a lack of understanding of the vast valueof this training on the part of some in the Dominion who, when not engaged in pouring cold water on the work and its need, have endeavoured to suppress this training altogether. All -.military experts brought in contact with tho training of the Dominion's Territorial and Cadet Forces, and who alone rare in a position to judge of its value and nec/essity, are unanimous regarding the vital need for supporting its continuance not only to directly aid in the present 'war, but also to ensure a successful Defence Force for the future. Already the Territorial Force has supplied the Expeditionary Force with some thousand officers, and well over its total original strength of 30,000 other ranks. In addition, it is still at" a strength of 29,000, some'Booo of whom annually paps into the Expeditionary Force on arrival at the; age of 20 years. East training-year alope some 500 officers and 14,000 men left the Territorial Force for service at the front; ' Had Territorial training been suspended in 1914 these officers and other ranks would have been deficient of three years of. military "■training, a training which aims at both defeating the enemy and saving the lives of our own soldiers.

Tlie fact that the Territorial Force, in spite of the heavy drain upon its recources, is still practically up to strength is due to the continued good work of the Cadet Force. In this force, Cadets receive progressive training in elementary subjects, and enter the Territorial force at 18 years of age, well equipped for the luVher training received in that force. 'The abolition of this system of training in 1914 would have meant an "irredeemable loss to the Dominion of some 45,000 Territorial* and over 50,000 Cadets of an invaluable degree of military efficiency at a time when such training is of priceless The greatest possible credit is due to the instructional staff and those officers of the Territorial and Cadet Forces; to whose enthusiaem and efficiency .the success attained has been chiefly due> Ow-, ing to the severe shortage of experienced instructors many unit officers have performed the work, formerly done by three or four times their number. This has been done at a considerable self-sacrifice, and the greatest, credit is due to those who. notwithstanding unique and p.iffantic difficulties and even hostile criticism, have helpfd a depleted staff to maintain the strength and efficiency of the Territorial and Cadet Forces. Particular credit must be given to those members of the instructional etaff who have' returned, from sei-vice at the front, and who have contributed in the fullest degree towards^t)iigs efficiency. The efficiency and discipline inculcated in the rinks of tbo Cadet and Territorial Forces are directly contributory to tho results obtained in' the Expeditionary Force camps, and the splendid name created by the New. Zealand Forces in the field.