DEFENCE TRAINING

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 51, 28 August 1920, Page 5

DEFENCE TRAINING

VIEWS OF AN EXPERT

FAULTS IN PRESENT--SYSTEM

„ HOW TO REMEDY THEM.

A highly important address on "Defence Training in Now Zealand," was delivered by Lieutenant-Colonel sT L. Sleeman, 1.G.5., Director of Military, Training, at the Garrison Officers' 'OfcW last evening.

"It is often argued by thecritics of defence that the existing system, large-' ly based upon the advice -<M Lord Kitchener and Sir lan ■ Hamilton, has been unsuccessful," . said -Colonel Sleema-n. ."It is true that the existing system ofi' 'Territorial training "has" "riot " produced! efficient results, but, in making this statement, it must be remembered that this scheme can,be likened to a ferry steamer which Was been called upon to perform the duties of a dreadnought since 1914, at which period it was in its infancy. During the great.war, its best officers. N.0.0.'g and men were withdrawn' from its ranks for Expeditionary Force service,.arid.its rifles and instructional equipment were taken away for the same purpose. "THE OUTSTANDING FAULT." . "Training in; New Zealand was. reduced every year of the great war, owing to the hardship imposed upon employers by the .continuance of defence training, and since the war the defence forces have been woefully short of officers, N.C.O.'s, rifles, equipment, .tents, 'vehicles, and every other-necessity for efficiency. Further, it must, be.'remambered. that experience has taught that the training of country Territorials', on the -bid-•system is unproductive of satisfactory .results when compared with' the expenditure, involved. ,This, indeed, is the outstanding fault of the existing scheme. To ask a defence instructor to gair military efficiency by attending parades scattered) all over a district-is synonymous with asking a schoolmaster to . obtain scholastic efficiency by dispensing with centralised schools and 'dispersing - his.- v instruction over numerous. small .centres ::a.t which, tvs pupils attend' at ■ intermittent intervals. Modern military training consists of a multiplicity of subjects, in which drill and musketry,, form a small part only. Consequently, the' training' of country Territorials ■■ " has practically ceased for three years,,no. camgs.-havimr been held curing the same period.;and both these-co-ncessions hare been-made in an endeavour to assist th'a Wployer-afa sacrifice of : defence, efficiency. In thesa circumstances, it is wrong to say that the. existing selieine lias proved "useless. . ' ■■; 'Like all experiments,, the.result of.ejP penence has disclosed -certain- waidiesses m the 1911 defence system. For example, it was foiind.:that reinforcements tor th*. Expeditionary. Force could not be obtained direct from Territorial- units, but had first to Ye sent into centralised camps for periods of; training, varying worn four months upwards, before embarking for active service. "

SYSTEM DID NOT FAIL.

To some this would.-Wgesti that the Territorial units had failed, but this was not the case. First, in 1914,' they, had had not had time to arrive at higher training; secondly, had they been mobilised in. unif camps, and been, provided with the necessary instructors and, equipment, they could have_provided the reinforcements required. This system would, however, have required more instructors and material than New Zealand possessed and an enormous number-of offi,cers, N.O.Q.'s, <and . Territorials'- would have been maintained in'unit camps spread all over New Zealand, who would have been lost to both the Expeditionary ijorce ■ and; to -. civil industry. The .policy .was, therefore,- adopted of centralismgthe available instructors, thereby ejecting economy aad reducing tba numtiers taken from active service or from avu industry at any one time to the lowest possible dimensions. "The experience gained by the centralised system of training showed the benefit derivable when compared to a system, requiring dispersed instruction. Under the old system instructors were required to. travel long distances into 'remote areas containing scattered Territorials and Cadets. It was. found impossible to expect, efficient results, from this system proportionate to the expense and inconvenience to. employer, employee, and instructor entailed. The instructors could not take with them essential instructional equipment, and were faced with the impossiOle task of giving satisfactory, military instruction to trainees of different "degrees"of efficiency and age on every parade. . ■ . CONVENIENT CONCENTRATION " . .- CAMPS, ■■;•■. "The average employer in country areas recognises the necessity for defence and is sympathetic to its''administrators." As practical men they recognised that % V ? e of mUitary instruction given, under this system was not'proportionate to the loss to civil, industry. Consequently, they objected to this form of military training, with the result that it has been practicaly abolished in country districts' during,the last three.years;'" It is essential that country trainees' shall ao their share and not leave ■ defence entirely to those trainees living, in town areas,- The obvious solution is to have convenient concentration camps at which country trainees can' attend at convenient periods, and, where they can. receive the "best/possible instruction from Defence exeprts in . the most compressedform and in the shortest possible time. It is equally obvious that each, district should possess its. own concentration camp m order to inflict the least possible inconvenience to attendees, and also for reasons of economy and the creation of the necessary; esprit de corps. IDEAL TO BE REACHED.

"The first .essential is the provision of 'ample supplies of efficient and enthusiastic officers', of the right type, for both tne -territorial and Cadet Forces. Fortunately, the Dominion now possesses permanent officers and n.ao.'e who can be relied upon to carry out their duty successiully, and whose- value in war can bo indicated by the large percentage decorated for distinguished s-ervics in the Great War.

„ .Some think,that; the concentration of men in military camps is bad from many points of view. Where. masses of . men taken into camp, neglected by their instructors, and left to their own idle devices^ this dould doubtless be the case. .In.district concentration camps every precaution would be taken to see that -the instruction given made for strength of mmd, body, and character^ and the prevention of idleness in ©very particular. Probably the number of men in camp at any one time would: not be greater than the strength of one battalion (1000 men), Jittlef. if any, j£ e Xr than;th 6 - Territorial unit camp, with the .f.™ ltJ? n.al advantttge.of;a.picW.lmtructional staff and the best supply cf training equipment. With good instructor-, interesting sxibjecte, healthy games, and ptner interests, combined with the personal example of the instructors—who would aU be specially selected officers and n.c.o. s—concentration camps could not demoralise men. On the contrary they would broaden: their outlook, aiid the, majority would unquestionably return to civil employment stronger, mentally, morally, end physically, than they hsa'evfE be»n fcsfp;r#?- .