COAST DEFENCE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 August 1926, Page 5

COAST DEFENCE

PLANS IN PREPARATION.

DOMINION’S FIGHTING FORCE.

KEEPING IT UP-TO-DATE

FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. AA ELLINGTON, ' Aug. 4. “It the fighting efficiency and readiness for war of our land forces is to be maintained, there are certain measures which are essential,” states Alajor-General Young, officer commanding the New Zealand forces, in his annual report He states that mobilisation, equipment., and armament is in good order, but war'experiences must result- in a considerable development. llie present is an important and difficult period, in that after exhaustive experiments and trials, certain new armament and equipment have t-o be adopted, in order that theequipment of our military forces ruav be brought up-to-date and uniform with other land forces throughout the Empire. These changes have been carefully considered and schemes drawn out and provision made for acquiring war reserves- of gun ammunition and certain chemicals for warfare and anti-gas equipment. ‘‘A scheme based on recommendations recently received from the Committee of Imperial Defence is being drawn up and will shortly be submitted, embodying certain alterations and additions to our existing coast defences, and defining the total period and successive stages by which these essential requirements will lie effected.”