TRAINING OF N.Z. SOLDIERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4460, 30 January 1917, Page 5

TRAINING OF N.Z. SOLDIERS.

STATEMENT BY MR. ALLEN

(By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 29.

Lord Nortlicliffe, according to a cabled statement, has said that tiie bayonet drill of the New Zealand soldiers is not thoroughly up to date. Referring to Pais matter, the Minister for Defence (Hon. J. Allen) said that the bayonet instruction given in the training camps in this country bad been progressively improved during the period of the war and had been kept as closely in line as possible with the training given in the British camps, where the lessons of the war were applied. The Defence Department had not been satisfied with the written instructions advice ; it in ad brought back to New Zealand trained and experienced) men in order that they might impart to tffe recruits in the camps the special knowledge they had acquired themselves in Britain and France. The Minister added that he did not think anything had been left undone to ensure that the training given m the New Zealand camps was as modern and practical as it could be made. The training period was dbort, but the ground-work was laid soundly and well, and the'results had pleased those most competent to judge. The Minister added that it was not proposed to shorten the training pei - iod in New Zealand. The training covered four months, from which deductions had to be made for leave, and during that time the recruits bad to be set up and developed physically, taught habits of discipline and military routine, and drilled and. trainee in fine use of the rifle and the bayonet. The additional training that- was given in the United Kingdom before the men proceeded to the front was ot a specialised character, and was meant to be supplementary to the instinct on given previously. The training New Zealand had the additional advantage of discovering the men who ■had physical weaknesses and so saving the expanses of sending them aioun * the world. The fact that in spite ol file severe tests m New Zealand some men did break down after they had reached the war area was pioot that the trainijig period was none too long.

COMMITTED TO 100,000 MEN. (Press Association Telegram.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. Inquiries regarding the criticism of Lord Northcliffe on the New Zealand Division in France shoiv that to cany out the suggestion to shorten the training here would mean speeding up the departure of existing reinforcements; in other words, New Zealand would fee required to raise one, two, or three extra drafts in addition to the present undertaking. As New Zealand is already committed to raise 100,000 men, if the war lasts a full three years, this extra obligation cannot be undertaken lightly. Further instruction on a new system of bay.onet fighting has been in progress at "Trentliam since September last, and the first draft receiving tbe same arrived in England tliis montlh. Tim system has since been more fully developed, so that this complaint in future should be removed by tbe arrival of succeeding drafts..