DEFENCE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 21785, 30 July 1934, Page 7

DEFENCE TOPICS

HEWS FROM THE SERVICES [By Sam Browne.] THE GAZETTE Tin? following announcements arc contained in New Zealand Gazette, No. 55, published on July 19, 1934; — Captain E. J. Anderson, M.C. (retired list), to be captain with seniority from August 25, _ 1928, and is posted to the Ist Battalion, Gtago Regiment. Dated June 29. 1934. „ Lieutenant (temp. Captain) J. J. Kernohan, Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, is posted to the retired list, with the rank of captain and with permission to wear the prescribed uniform. Dated June 29, 1934. Lieutenant A. H. Mahan, Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, is transferred to tire Reserve of Officer's, Class I. (b), R.D. 11. Dated July 5, 1934. Lieutenant K. B. Watson, M.B. (N.Z. Medical Corps) ceases to be attached to the Otago Mounted Rifles, and is transferred to the Central Command. Dated June 28, 1934. HAVAL RESERVES PARADES Both sub-divisions paraded on their respective drill nights. The juniors were given an interesting lecture on the origin, history, and wearing ot the naval uniform, whilst the senior subdivision was given an equally absorbing lecture on the history, principles, and development of gunnery. The subdivisions will parade as usual on Wednesday and Thursday for instruction in seamanship, gunnery, mine-sweeping, visual signalling,’ and wireless telegraphy. MINIATURE RIFLE PRACTICE The miniature rifle range at headquarters will be available at 7 o’clock to-night. The sustained interest in this phase of training is a pleasing fear ture, and augurs well for the annual service rifle practice which will be carried out at Pelichet Bay later in the year. VOLUNTARY TRAINING Petty officers and leading seamen are invited to a resume m seamanship at headquarters to-night. The usual voluntary training in visual signalling and wireless telegraphy will also be earned out. ARTILLERY 12TH BATTERY On Wednesday s parade of the 12th Battery the'second night’s work on the new syllabus was carried out with excellent results. Major Carthy. officer commanding the 19th (Coast) Battery, was present, and accompanied the bat tery commander on bis inspection. Captain J. F. G. Stark conducted his class for senior non-commissioned ofliceis in elementary angles, the remainder of the officers studying survey methods under Lieutenant Fahey. The battery will shortly hold its annual smoke concert. THE GTAGO REGIMENT CONTINUATION OF TRAINING The Dunedin portion of the battalion paraded on Tuesday evening at the Drill Hall, when the commanding officer’s syllabus of training was earned a step further. D (S.) Company en gaged in Vickers gun standard tests, in which all ranks took part, whilst the ranks of A Company and headquarter wing proceeded with: Lewis gun training under staff instructors. The non-com missioned officers of these latter units received more advanced instruction from the R.S.M. To-morrow eyenmg’s parade will conclude the syllabus, tins short revisional course being Anally terminated with the regimental dance, which is sche duied for to-morrow week in the regimental room. On,the following Tuesday (August 14) company and group commanders will take over their respective commands, and training by sub-units will commence immediately, .—; (i RECRUITS STILL OFFERING Since the inception of military training on a volunteer basis the strength ot the Otago Regiment has been considerably below the normal peace establishment of such a unit. The position to-day, however, is more sound than at any time in the past three or four years. The names at present on the roll belong to an . excellent type of young men, most ot .whom have stayed with commendable fortitude to the unit through its several trials and vicissitudes "under the volunteer system. Attendances of between 80 and 90 per cent, of the total strength have been maintained since the commencement of the new training year, which is very satisfactory considering the inconvenience some enthusiasts suffer in attending parades. The enrolment of a number of recruits has augmented considerably the numerical strength since the beginning ot the year, but of all the companies and groups comprising the battalion only one (excepting tbe bauds) is at full strength. There are vacancies for a considerable num her of young men of good type as riflemen and Lewis gunners, machine gunners, light mortar gunners, and for communications (signalling, telegraphy, radio, etc.), transport, and pioneers. Intending recruits and others interested.

arc advised to communicate now, at the beginning of the training year, with any officer of the regiment, or with the adjutant 'Captain S. M. Satterthwaite) at the Drill Hall daily and on Tuesday evenings. THE SUPPORT COMPANY There is considerable misunderstanding and conjecture amongst past members of the regiment and the public generally as to; the exact identity and function of the new “ support " company, so a few words here might not be out of place. The change is mainly one of nomenclature. This unit is almost identical with the D (Machine Uun) Company, which has existed hitherto. War Office instructions provide that one machine gun platoon on both peace and war establishments of infantry battalions on Home and Colo nial establishment will be replaced by a platoon of mortars, and in consequence the Machine Gun Company will be known as the Support Company. It will be distinguished by the symbol •' S,” replacing the symbol “ MG.” The mortars were added to the estab ushinent of the MG Company because it was considered that the commanding officer had already a sufficient number of sub-units to deal with, and the officer commanding this company has the means available to administer the platoon, particularly m the matter of ammunition supply. This officer can also assist the commanding officer in distn buting the high trajectory (mortars) and the low trajectory (machine gun) .support weapons in the battalion, and in co-ordinating their lire. The machine gun platoons will be organised and will tram as before. The organisation of the new mprter platoon is, briefly, H.Q , and four detachments each of one Sin mortar and team. In the attack this platoon will provide close support for the rifle companies.Owing to its high angle fire it can be detailed for tasks ordinarily impossible to other support weapons. In the defence, subject to the ammunition supply, it can maintain an extremely high rate of lire and be particularly valuable for support in counter-attacks and the supplement of artillery and machine guns. It is also most suitable for advanced guard work, owing to its ability to come into action almost anywhere and open fire with promptitude. The trajectory of the missile being easily controlled, ranging from 120yds to I,sooyds, it is particularly useful to infantry in close country. Either a high explosive or a smoke bomb (both fused) can be fired, and, according to information available, at a maximum rate of forty rounds per minute. Small, mobile, and of convenient weight for transport over short distances by its own team, it must certainly prove a valuable acquisition to the infantry battalion and a source of great interest to those engaged in its study. Sufficient of these mortars' to fully establish the mortar platoon of the Otago Regiment are expected to be to hand within a few 'weeks. Members of the Now Zealand Staff Corps and the New Zealand Permanent Staff return from a special mortar course at Trenthara this week, and the instruction of the officers and non-com-missioned officers concerned will be undertaken immediately. THE “TOC EMMA" PLATOON Whilst the introduction of the mortar co the regiment three weeks ago has created quite the expected interest amongst recruits, there is still vacancies for further men. Those already joined are of excellent stamp, and in sufficient numbers to enable the establishment of the first detachment to be completed and the second proceeded with. The Support company commander (Captain P. Spiers, M.C., V.l>.) has laid down that these .sections are to receive training in elementary machine gunnery before commencing on study of the new weapon. This is now proceeding, and work on the mortar itself will be commenced immediately following the regimental refresher course at the end of August.

BANDS Both bands of the unit' are busily engaged on their practices. The Mill tary Band; under Lieutenant L. 0. Aston, is hard at work preparing concerts which it is hoped to present before the close mf the season. DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA STATEMENT BY SIR GEORGE PEARCE In a' statement of governmental policy made at Sydney, Senator, the Right Hon. Sir George Pearce, Minister of Defence, said that the question of, tile type of equipment that should be installed in coast fortresses had been occupying the service . authorities at Home and in Australia, and until recently no decision had been reached on certain technical aspects of the problem. After very careful consideration it bad been decided that the gun must play the primary role in coast fortress defence, assisted by aircraft to ensure the maximum defensive effort. The lighter coast defence guns were of the latest pattern in the Empire for the role they were designed to perform,, but the heavy, armament was badly in need of replacement. Their ability to defend the large and vital centres against air attack was a matter which would occupy the minds of all those who . took an interest in defence matters. Aircraft and antiaircraft guns were'the two forms of defence against , that type of attack. The subject of mechanisation was ,a most important one, as it played such an important part in any array organisation, and the Government was taking steps to bring the Australian Army into line as far as possible, with the British Army.

To a country like Australia, with a very long coastline, a large number of armoured cars was a necessity, and plans were well advanced for the production of armoured cars by the munition factories for trial.

The mechanisation of the artillery belonging to cavalry formations and of the transport of the supply services .of all divisions had been, authorised. As it was impracticable to maintain large fleets of lorries for these units in peace reliance was to bo placed on obtaining the necessary vehicles from civil sources.

The question of training was an important one, went oh Sir George, and it had been necessary to hold small unit camps to save the cost in rail 'fares in concentrating troops in large camps. This was bad for training, as it gave no scope for the training of the higher fcommnndera and their staffs. “ There is nothing spectacular to the man in the street in the. above proposals,” said the Minister. “ A few large coast defence guns, which, he normally does not see. the manufacture of some anti-aircraft guns,’provision of •some armoured ears and lorries, extra ammunition, which is badly needed, and additional facilities for training do not make much of a'display. It will be remembered, hpjveyer, that it is only by adequate arrangements of this nature that the mass of the manpower of this country can he utilised efficiently in a national crisis should an enomv launch a large overseas exnedi Hon against ns. Our own Navy is designed to police mir trade routes and to onnose minor raids, hut, if the cooperation of H'e - main Bniish fleet is not available should an enemy attempt a large sea'e attack or invasion of our shores, then it is the Army and th e manhood in the mass that we must depend upon to drive off the invaders.