DEFENCE OF N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 25 November 1942, Page 3

DEFENCE OF N.Z.

THE ARMY’S WORK

Its Organisation Outlined

(1) In previous articles strategical considerations and defence plans of the N.Z. Army have been discussed and the following paragraphs deal with the equally important, questions of organisation’ command, training, and role of the Army. (2) Considerable interest in these matters has been displayed by the general public and by . the troops themselves. This interest is evident from the suggestions and criticisms which are constantly being received and which being generally sectional in character can only be of real value if the whole picture can be seen and taken into consideration.

(3) The Army is divided into two sections: (a) Mobilised troops, comprising many tens of thousands of men; (b) non-mobilised troops, exceeding one hundred thousand in strength. These in turn include many sub-divisions: (a) Mobilised troops include (i) A number of Divisions each commanded by a Major-General. These are strong mobile forces of all arms stationed at selected points throughout New Zealand in readiness to proceed to any threatened areas and attack the enemy, (ii) Garrison troops of all arms holding fortress areas and secondary ports, and under the command of the officers commanding the three Military Districts. They include infantry battalions and companies, coast defence, anti-air-craft and field artillery, and their role is to oppose enemy landings, bombardment, and air attacks, and at least impose delay on enemy landing forces to give them time for the mobile troops to reach the scene. To avoid undue dispersal of force garrison troops are kept to the minimum possible strength. They include women in increasing numbers, (iii) Guards on vital points. These are small detachments varying in strength from a few men to 30 or more. They guard various civil installations, aumps, oil tanks, and other very important points, principally against sabotage. The actual points to be guarded are decided by the three Chiefs of Staff (Navy; Army, Air Force) in close consultation with the Police Department, which has the duly of ensuring that points of lesser importance are guarded b,v police or by night watchmen. There is a natural tendency to require too many points to be guarded by troops which could only lead to a considerable dispersal of armed strength and a consequent reduction in the mobile or striking forces on which the safety of the country primarily depends. (IV.) ' Coast watching personnel. These watch important points on the coastline and consist of small parties who are often stationed in very isolated localities with practically no comforts or amenities. <V.) Staff employed at Army, District, ©nd Area H.Q’s., Staff College, Army and District Schools of Instruction, and with Home Guard units. (VI.) Army Tank Brigade. A powerful formation operating under Army H.Q., though battalions of the brigade may be allotted to selected Divisions. (VII.) N.Z.E.F. Reinforcements. Owing to the shortage of men for the Army, these reinforcements are posted to units of the Home Guard until their departure for overseas is imminent, when they are withdrawn and concentrated in one camp prior to embarkation. (VIII.) Armoured Fighting Vehicle Regts. These are the former.- Mounted Rifle Regiments, which are equipped with armoured cars, and Bren carriers, and are now being issued with large numbers of tanks. Most of them are under command of Divisional Commanders but some are operating under the District Commanders. (b) Non-mob.ilised troops, these include: (I) Territorial Force—Defence Engineer Service Corps. This Corps consists of personnel provided by the Public Works Department, Local Bodies and contracting firms. The function of the Corps is to supplement the existing Engineer Services in the event of war in New Zealand. (II) Home Guard Units which are under Area Commanders are responsible for the defence of localities within reasonable distance of their homes. At present they are almost entirely infantry units, but the manpower situation necessitates Home Guard unis taking over duties in connection with Coast Defences, Antiaircraft equipment, and Field Artillery whilst still remaining on a Home Guard basis. The Home Guard organisation also includes Lines of Communication, Signals and Railway units, Lines of Communications M.T., Traffic Control Corps and Bomb Disposal Companies. (III.) Reserve personnel, e.g., men released from mobilisation units for farming, coalmining, timber and other industries including numerous tradesmen for technical work. These men number many thousands, and would rejoin their units in an emergency. . (4) In addition to the above subdivisions there are two man-power divisions, namely men of Grade I category eligible in all respects for the N.Z.E.F., and men of lower categories and of ages below and above those laid down for overseas service. Men of all these categories are to be found in all units in N.Z. with the ex-; ception of the Army Tank Brigade and one of the Divisions. This situation has many disadvantages, the principal one being that in the event of the situation requiring the despatch of forces overseas, no unit — with the exception of those mentioned—would be composed of. men of suitable category. Thus special training of units and formations to meet this eventuality could not be undertaken until units, etc., consising of Grade I personnel only, were available.

(5) Obviously, had t. circumstances permitted, it would have • been better to have posted all Grade I men to selected units in the first place, but this could not be done, as the crisis following upon J’apan’s entry into the war necessitated the urgent provision of mobile or striking forces at as great a strength as possible as a first priority followed by the strengthening of garrison troops. (6) At an opportune moment—which was a little difficult to decide, since a certain amount of disorganisation and loss of efficiency would ensue—the transfer of all Grade I men from Garrison troops to the Divisions and of lower grade men from Divisions to Garrison troops was commenced. Unfortunately the somewhat sudden withdrawal of men from the Army for various industries followed immediately and certain other activities of a similar tvpe took place about the same'time, throwing a considerable strain and much additional work on un’ts and staff alike. (7) However, the measures taken will place the Armv in a position to meet any strategical situation which mav arise and will enable a fairly wide choice to be made in the selection of units and formations for oversea serv'ce (should th's become, necessary), thus reducing the disruptive effect on tlm olans and dispositions for Home Defence. COMMAND. (8) The N.Z. Army is commanded bv a General Officer. Commanding—a Lieutenant-General—who exercises his command through a staff at Army HQ. This staff consists,of; The Gen-

eral Staff, responsible to the G.0.C., for war organisation, plans and operations, ,intelligence and training', '.the Adjutant-General’s Branch of the Staff, responsible to the G.O.C. for discipline, pay, personnel, medical and dental services, spiritual welfare, education, prisoners of war and internees. The Quartermaster-Gen-eial’s Branch of the Staff, responsible to the G.O.C. for provision of food, clothing, stores, equipment, armament and arms, ammunition, explosives. accommodation, transport and movements by rail, road and sea. (9) Through this Staff, the G.O.C. controls the three Military Districts and the various infantry Divisions or mobile forces of all arms, the Divi-* sions coming directly under Army H.Q., as is the case also with the Tank Brigade, N.Z.E.F. reinforcements, Army Schools and the Staff College. (10> Army H.O. in addition to its function as H.Q. of an army in the field also acts as a War Oirice. As such it provides the three Military Members and the Civil member or the Army Board —the G.O.C. in his capacitv as Chief of the General Staff, ' the Adjutant-General, the Quartermaster-General, and the mmy Secretary—under the chairmanship of the Minister of Defence. The Army Board constituted by Act of Parliament is responsible for the broad administration of the Army as a whole and the bulk of its work is clone by consultations and correspondence between the respective members of the Board and the Minister. (11) The G.O.C. as Chief of the General Staff is also a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee consisting of the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff, and the Chief of the Air Staff, with the Sec retary of the ''Organisation for National Security as Secretary. 1 bis committee deals with all importan. questions affecting the three righting services, and is also responsible io advising War Cabinet on detence matters of all kinds including many aspects of civil defence. With a slightly additional personnel it also deals with the security ot Vital Points throughout New Zealand. (12) Again, as Chief ot the General Staff, the G.O.C. is the principal adviser of War Cabinet on all matters relating to the Army at home or ab The Assistant Chief of the General Staff (and in certain matters the Deputy-Chief of the General Staff) represents the Chief of the General Staff at the majority of the meetings of the Chiefs of Staff in order to give the latter greater- freedom to -attend to his duties as G.O.C. r> n For the same reason, the G.O.C. is similarly represented on occasions at War Cabinet and on the Army Board, and always in his absence from Wellington. In practice, this system works well, the Assistant-Chief of the General Staff being in the closest touch with the Chief of General Staff and receiving his directions when necessary prior to these meetings, and on rare occasions, reserving points for subsequent consultation. .