TERRITORIALS’ EQUIPMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1941, Page 2

TERRITORIALS’ EQUIPMENT

SIR J. DUIGAN’S STATEMENT. [per press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 23. “The New Zealand Territorial Force is to be equipped with the most-modern weapons available, as quickly as these can be obtained, and mechanisation is to be carried on in conformity with the latest demands of warfare.” These were the words of the Chief of the General Staff (Major-General Sir J. Duigan), during an intervievz, to-day, when he said that his successor, LieutenantGeneral Sir Guy Williams, would nqt be taking over an unorganised territorial force. Major-General Duigan will retire from his command on May 31, and intends to visit Australia for a holiday. His present visit to Christchurch is the last he will pay in his official capacity, and he said that he made the trip to thank the staff of the Southern Military. District, both permanent and temporary, for the excellent work they had done. They had worked long hours, and since the outbreak of war holidays had been out of the question for them. At the outset, 50 per cent, of the staff officers had to be released for service overseas, and their places had been taken by territorial officers, and olficers from the reserve who had come back into service, and, on the whole, had done excellent work. The expansion of the Territorial Force from 16,000 to 45,000 had been completed, and all the senior officers had gained experience in the moving of motorised troops, and, through manoeuvres which had been as realistic as possible, they had learned something of the latest methods of engaging and fighting the enemy. The clothing and equipping of the forces, and the supply of modern weapons, had been constantly undei review, including the

QUESTION OF MECHANISATION of the whole army as fast as possible with the latest types of weapons and other equipment available. In time, this huge task would be completed. A great deal had already bean done to improve the efficiency of the forces, and they were now on a much-better basis than they were at the outbreak of hostilities. New Zealand had started a long way behind scratch, sharing that handicap with all the other nations of the British Commonwealth, but, by the exertion of energy and constant application to the needs of the day and hour, had made up a lot of the ground. Most of the Territorial Force had been given three months intensive training, and the majority of the officers had five months' training This work was continuing, and the efficiency of the defence forces Generally was steadily improving. ° Major-General Duigan added that, in addition to the training of a large force of territorials, New. Zealand had also reason to be satisfied with the state of efficiency in the Expeditionary Force. A large force had been sent overseas. These men had received their preliminary training in various camps built and equipped m the Dominion. Their training had been designed to meet the requirements of General Frey berg, and there was every reason to -believe that the commander overseas had been well satisfied.