Pukekohe Company of the Auckland Regiment

Franklin Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 110, 19 September 1938, Page 5

Pukekohe Company of the Auckland Regiment

TROOPS INSPECTED

COLONEL TILSLEY’S VISIT

NEED FOR EFFICIENT SOLDIERS

The Pukekohe territorials were inspected on Wednesday last by the Officer Commanding the Auckland Regiment, Lieutenart-Col-onel R. Tilsley, M.C., D.C.M., accompanied by Captoin R. H. Fortier. After watching the troops at drill, and the ordinary syllabus of bayonet training, the Colonel addressed them on various lessons to be learned from the last war. He pointed out that troops untraine d in war could not beat experienced soldiers. In the last war many soldiers were keen and well disciplined, but the lack of tactical training was responsible for the loss of many men.

For this reason he considered that the belligerent Powers were now Paining their troops in actual warfare —Japan in China, Italy in Abyssinia and Spain, and Germany in Spain, lie brietly touched on the present international situation by stating that it was unlikely that Germany would precipitate a major conflict in the autumn (in Northern Europe) and that hostilities on a large scale, if any, would he deferred until next spring, when the mechanised armies could be utilised.

He emphasised, however, that the territorials should do their best to becume efficient soldiers, and stated that they would probably be the officers and N.G.O.’s of the division, when formed. There was a distinct possibility, he went on, that if Britain became involved in Europe, and the fleet was called to the North Sea, some power would seize the opportunity to disrupt the British Empire in the Pacific, while Italy struck in the Mediterranean. A prepared Australia and New Zealand would undoubtedly upset plans designed to precipitate a conflict in the Pacific.