THE TERRITORIALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 10

THE TERRITORIALS

ADVANCED TRAINING

MORE EXERCISES DRAWN UP

PLAN OUTLINED

Further steps to bring the Territorial Force to a high state of efficiency have been planned by the Government, according to a statement made last night by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), who outlined an advanced training programme.

The Minister said that the larger portions of the field fbrce completed their three months' training towards the end of December, concluding with brigade manoeuvres extending over a week, and in circumstances approximating as nearly as possible to active service conditions. The units concerned had reached a standard of efficiency which was highly satisfactory. ,

"Units which did- not carry out their three months' training in OctoberDecember, 1940, are now either in camp i or about to enter camp in - the next two or three weeks," he continued. "The formations composed of these units will carry out field exercises of about ten days' duration during the latter part of March. These exercises will be carried out separately' in the three military districts, the total number involved being approximately 12,000 all ranks. FORTNIGHT'S TRAINING. "The Government has nOw decided to carry out in each district a further series of exercises extending over 14 days between April 7 and June 10, 1941. The troops involved in each disItrict will number slightly more than 4000, and will comprise units who carried out their original three months' intensive training in October-Decem-ber, 1940. "I feel sure," concluded Mr. Jones, "that on completion of this training all concerned will have reached a state of efficiency which would enable the Territorial Force, if the necessity arose, to go to war as a fighting machine and render an excellent account of itself. '

"With the operation of- the ballot for overseas service, a proportion of the Territorial Force will be withdrawn for service overseas. The effect that this will have on the Territorial Force has. been foreseen, and the necessary troops to keep territorial units up to their war establishment will be forthcoming as the result of a programme of training reinforcements for these units progressively for three months throughout the year, the numbers being based on the transfer of personnel from the Territorial to the Expeditionary Force." , *