OUR DEFENCE SCHEME

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 April 1910, Page 4

OUR DEFENCE SCHEME

:„v TKiiaiaai'U fi.u rams avocation]

AVKLLiNti n )N. April 6. Ibe Defence Department is not standing sull in regard to Hi- ipiesiion nf leorganising the forces ami introducing the new scheme. Ihe J tcusin nof Volunteers Into IVrrdoi lab. :ml lac introduction of eompnbory service •ainnot be aecomplished all in a minute. The scheme will necessarily take mouths to complete, ami the week is bid no gene on with systematically aim ipiieHy. For (he present the Territorial force ma\ lie i-erniled only tip to the establishment of the old Volunteer force. draining will he as hitherto, with the exception that infant ry and cycle companies will train in camp for a'period of se en days, night and morning i,i, Iy, unless volunteering to remain in cam]) during the day. when personal allowance will be granted. Tt lias been decided to subdivide the Wellington military district into four areas for the present. Ihe same will he done in Auckland, ('.'interimry and Otago-Sottthland. thus creating eight sub divisions in each island. These are being s . arranged that each area will in its turn be capable ot sub-divi-sion. It has been decided that the led itorial Field F-i'ce in each district shall be organised into brigades, regiments and battalions, as far as local conditions admit, as follows One mounted tide bi i gade o|- two or three regiments and headquarters, one mounted signalling company, one mounted supply column, one mounted Held and ambulance, one field artillery brigade and ammunition column, one field engineer company, one infantry brigade of throe ■ r four battalions and headquarters, one infantry signalling company, one infantry supply column (mixed), one field ambulance. Tt is more than likely that each subdivision will he placed in command of an area adjutant, who will have charge of the insf ruction;il department and of I the general training section. The latter will he drawn from (he four areas, the I -time as the Territorial Force, hid the details have not yet been decided upon,