TERRITORIALS

Evening Star, Issue 18031, 27 July 1922, Page 9

TERRITORIALS

[By Skirmisher.]

(tew of interest concerning Corps (Town 5 and Country), shooting, and Territorial notes generally will be accepted. Copy, addressed to “ Skirmisher,’’ should be in hand not later than Monday morning.

Dio Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, has now settled down properly to its work. Last Monday night the officer commanding tho battalion inspected A Company, and was well pleased with the result. Ino officers of this company are to bo compuj ’monied on tho general appearance and steadiness of the parade. After .tho inspection the 0.0. spoke a, few words to tho company, mentioning that he was pleased, and stating that ho would inspect them again when they were fully equipped and armed, "" The officers attending wore Captain it. S. Kcnrick (in charge), Lieutenant A. R. Cocker ill, D. 5.0., Lieutenant. W. R. Connor, Second Lieutenant A. I’. Roydhouse, and Lieutenant P. L. Hunt. N.Z.S.U (adjutant). The members of the permanent staff present were Sergeants-major J. Gumming andi D. Pry do. On the occasion of tln> battalion ball next Monday there will not be a parade of A Company. , , , , In my notes during tho-last few weeks I have inado frequent mention of the military ball which is being given by tho officers of the Ist Battalion. Otago Regiment next Monday night. I understand that arrangements are now well in hand, and everything points to a very successful function indeed. I have been asked by quite ai number of folk outside the mihtary circle what tho chances are of obtaining tickets to attend tho function. I have now approached tho committee on tho subject, and have been informed that there are a limited, number of tickets available for people other than officers and other military people, and that such tickets may be obtained on or before tho 28th inst. from members of the committee. I understand that tho colonel commandant for the Southern command, Colonel R. Young, C. 8., C.M G D.S O A.D.C., N.Z.S.C., and several other start officers ’ are to be present. . The work of equipping tho trainees of the Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, with Webb equipment and rifles is being steadily proceeded with. Tho department is to be commended for the step it hastaken in issuing to trainees the above equipment. Apart from adding to the soldiorlv appearance of the territorial, tills should'lead to'much greater all-round efficiency. . Tho staff at Kensington Drill Hall is busy preparing for an, inspection by the colonel commandant, who is expected to arrive some time this week. Dhde m Dunedin he will supervise the tactical fitness examination of two officers of. the Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment. In addition to this, tho Territorials and Cadets in tins regimental district are to bo inspected.' On Monday last the Otago Bovs High School Senior Cadets were inspected prior to final inspection for tho Ridderford Cup. 1 understand that, while the inspecting officers were pleased with the inspection, no particulars are available for publication at present. The ‘Gazette’ contains regulations tor the New. Zealand Royal Naval Reserve, which will be composed of' three classes: (a) Men who are British-born subiects. and-who have served for stated periods in a Roval naval rating in Royal or Dominion Navy; (b) men who are Britishborn subiects. and who follow the sea as a profession* in ships of tho mercantile marine engaged in the New Zealand coastal. Australasian, or Pacific Ocean trades or in a steam fishing vessel; (c) men who are British-born subiects, but belong to neither of the above categories. Class (a) will be divided into (1) inactive reserve, (2) active reserve. SOUND DEFENCE. —Need for Military Training.—

The present system of military' training and the need for tho continuance of defensive preparations were commented on by Brigadier-general G. S. Richardson at a gathering of past and present members of tho sth (late D) Battery, N.Z.F.A., at Wellington last week. Under the old system, the speaker said, T) Battery had a very successful career. Why had it been successful? Was the same spirit in the battery to-day that was evident in the battery of old, when they trained on several evenings in the week? To-day there was a parade hut once a month, and it was known by many officers, as well as by himself, that it was not sufficient. To-day there was a, slump iu tho) military organisation, but the effects of that slump could be overcome by each unit retaining its enthusiasm and ©very man trying to do_ his _best for his country. Everv boy in New Zealand should" be trained to take bis part in the defence of his country, if need be. ’ Regarding tho League of Nations, he asked; Was the military policy of the British Tmpire am aggressive one? Had it ever been aggressive? The British* Empire Forces had been organised solely for defensive purposes. Those people who advocated complete disarmament failed to realise that such would expose the nation to attack. Those who had seen tho horrors of war realised what war was, and would do their best to preserve peace. In preserving peace he supported the advocacy of the League of Nations. The world was in a very troubled state to-day, and there was no country so vulnerable as the British Empire. The British Empire could not afford to weaken its defences. _ The period of three years spent in Territorial training was beneficial in helping to make citizens, ami it should be the aim of every trainee to put his time in earnestly and well, and so bo ready in the event of his country over coming to war. Any attempt to evade military service ho regarded ns a crime. The proper carrying out of the defensive training system would enable the country to take its place in tho Empire in the case of any national emergency. Ho urged the Territorials to work and become efficient in the building up of a sound defence system.