AUSTRALIAN ARMY RESERVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 February 1917, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ARMY RESERVE

EARLY CREATION EX- ! PECTEB. l _ j DETAILS PMA'CTICALLY J COMPLETE. x J '■' s It is expected that at the next F meeting of the Federal Executive a sanction will bo given to the immediate ceration of a comprehend ' sive Australian Army Reserve. A scheme for the formation of such j a body, has "been under consider a- c lion tor some considerable time c past. t The idea in general form was agreed to by the Minister of Defence, and Colonel Kenneth Mackay was appointed director- -j general, and instructed to work ( out the necessary details. These j are now practically completed, c and the authorities will be able 1 to commence the enrolment of « men in the reserve as soon as the ~ scheme is finally sanctioned. Heturned soldiers who have seen ac- , tive service abroad are to form ( the backbone of the new unit. Already there are about 20,000 i of these veterans in the Common- r wealth. Although, unfortunately, , some of them are unfitted for fur- . ther campaigning, there are many who will still be able to shoulder , a gun if need be, and be eligible • to enrol as active members of the Australian Army Reserve. The identity of the present fighting units ' of the Common- : wealth Imperial i''t»'<'< 1 i» to be preserved in the new army reserve. The lneii who fought side i by side in Oallipoli, and who are now standing together under arms in France and Egypt, will meet together as comrades in, the new' organisation, retaining their A.I.F. rank, and being,allotted to a unit bearing the same mme and number as the one in which thev served abroad. The reserve will be open to any man who has been on active service, either in the present war or in -previous wars. The new body will also absorb the existing reserves which comprises members of affiliated rifle clubs, . .