Enrolment For Home Defence

Northern Advocate, 25 May 1939, Page 2

Enrolment For Home Defence

iSjjecial to “ Northern Advocate’'’] WELLINGTON, This Day. Although a comparatively large number of men throughout New Zealand have already responded to the Prime Minister’s appeal to men between 20 and 55 years to enrol for home defence, there are many more who hesitate to put in the required form because they are ignorant of what the enrolment implies. Inquiries made today show that each Territorial unit will be given a reserve drawn from men aged 20 to 35, Who have had military training, 'jiither' in the Territorial force or in Cio.me other Empire military force. ■ v These men will form Class 1 of the “Kstional Military Reserve and will be given sufficient training to refresh the knowledge they had gained durriihg service. ,Training of Reservists, il Territorial units will be given further valuable support by Class 2 of the Reserve, which will be drawn from men who have been on active Service or have had Regular Army graining. .Those who are . selected to form .'Glasses 1 and 2 will be the 5000 men by Mr Savage to be called up in case of emergency, to bring she Territorial army to wartime establishment. fvMr Savage said these men would lie given training “in the 'art of

war,” but would not be separated from their families, and occupations 'lor long periods. The training proCjpipsed will pi’obably be a refresher ■tcoursc of six days annually, 'and time ffor such training will be ■ arranged 'Sp that there, will be, a minimum of interference with the man’s occupattion. 'yl;. Classes Explained. *sMen drafted to Class 1 will be sedieted according to qualifications, fam- ■ ■ t «•! •‘ily responsibilities and probable use|fiiiness. For instance, a man of 32 'years who has served in a Territorial force with non-commissioned rank 4h the Field Artillery, would probably’be given a refresher course to enable him to act as an instructor if .heeded.

i Men for Class 2 will be selected in ra.) similar way ; As they will be older than those in Class I, their family responsibilities are likely to be greater, and consequently the tasks selected for them are such as will not be likely to call for front-line work in a' military emergency.

RUSSIAN PILOTS HAILED. The Russian army pilots, General Kokkinaki and Major Gordienko,. who attempted to fly from Moscow to the New York World’s Fair, but who were forced down on a barren island off the coast of New Brunswick, were wildly welcomed on their return to Moscow. They were greeted by the Vice-Com-rnissar for Defence, General Budinny and high Air Force and Army officials.