USE OF LORRJES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 10

USE OF LORRJES

MILITARY TRANSPORT

CIVIL RESOURCES

An increased use of mechanised units in the Dominion's Territorial Force, especially for transport, is forecast in a statement issued last evening by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). Each military district would have a supply of Army. type vans, trucks, and lorries for training purposes, the Minister said, and as New Zealand held second place in the world for density of motor vehicles in proportion to population, there were ample resources to draw from for military purposes in the event of an emergency. "The new plans offer scope to efficient drivers and mechanics for attractive as well as useful training," said Mr. Jones last evening. Vln future, every Territorial unit will have a motor transport section, specially enlisted and trained as military drivers.This does not mean that an Army lorry driver requires to be drilled. It simply means that he must be able to read a map and develop what may be called a sense of routes. In addition, the Army motor vehicle driver has to learn how best to safeguard himself and his vehicle from more than the everyday hazards of the road. The scheme of training includes provision for the individual development of such resourcefulness. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS. "The motor transport section will take over and operate the Army pool transport when allotted to units for training. I feel confident that there are many keen, competent trade vehicle drivers who will join up, extend their experience, and give a most valuable service for their country as highly efficient Territorials. Eventually it may be possible to include as part of the motor transport equipment a section of 'dragons,' the small fullytracked vehicle which the British Army has adopted for carrying machine-guns and hauling artillery. Jus,t now all production of these specialised vehicles is earmarked for the re-armament programme in the United Kingdom. "As regards artillery, gun-horses are being replaced everywhere by some form of motor tractor. The difficulty, so far, has been to combine adequate cross-country performance with modern road speeds. Most of the modern armies, after extensive experiments, are adopting some form of pneumatictyred wheels for all mobile artillery. The initial cost is fairly high, but the actual wheel and tyre assembly is standard commercial equipment, and therefore readily replaced." Mr. Jones referred to the popularity of the motor-cyclist section, known as the "Blackberries." These Lewis gun platoons are regarded as the corps d'elite of'the Territorial Force. The men look smart in their black berets, and their appearance and uniform will be still further improved shortly by the provision of black gauntlet gloves, black belts, and black knee-boots or gaiters. A -somewhat similar organisation based on the British Army experiments with motor cavalry is being tried out with a proportion of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. In each district a squadron containing both Vickers and light machine-guns will be fully motorised The use of horses, however, will not be eliminated. It is recognised that in difficu^ country the horse still provides the most efficient transportation. Thus, mounted riflemen will always have a definite and necessary role in the defence system of New Zealand.