THE NATIONAL RESERVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15821, 19 January 1915, Page 8

THE NATIONAL RESERVE

SECOND LINE OF DEFENCE.

600 ACTIVE MEMBERS

It anyone who was labouring under the mistaken impression that the National Reserve is merely a paper organisation had visited the Drill Hall last night he would

have been speedily disillusioned. He would have found some 300 men of all ages and of all walks of life drilling. It was not the kind of drill witnessed sometimes when young territorials are paraded and display a natural exuberance of youthful spirits ; every man drilling last night was there from a sense of duty to ' his country and Empire, and was in deadly earnest. Some were practically | raw recruits, and others had not drilled ; for years, yet one and all were keen and ; alert, being only too anxious to carry out j the commands of the sergeant-major who I was drilling them. There can he no doubt I that the National Reserve, which is the < Dominion's recognised second line of deI fence, will quickly prove itself to bo a I valuable asset to the country. j Since its formation, the reserve has teen ' unostentatiously but steadily proving itself worthy of the official recognition extended to it by the Defence authorities. Men are being enrolled into the force daily. Some j of them have seen active service in their ' younger days, but are debarred by age i from volunteering for the front, many I mere being business men with some little I volunteering experience, whilst < tliers | have, never drilled before but arc desirous of doing what they can at the present I crisis. On different nights of each week | the various anna of the service undergo ! instruction from staff sergeant-ma'jors. | Last night 200 men were drilled as an inI fantry company, another 100 or so being I divided into two ambulance squads and I taught the rudiments of first aid. ? On. I other nights tho mountain section parades, | and the field engineers and the garrison I artillery. At present all branches >? the service are represented by about 600 active members. The greatest esprit do corps exists between the second line of defence and the first linethe territorials. Shooting matches between the two are to be held, while it is anticipated that arrangements j will be made whereby the reserve will be lent sufficient rifles by the territorials to j enable them to carry out drill and I exercises with arms. On Friday evening next the officer comj manding the district, Colonel J. E. Hume, I will be given an opportunity of seeing for himself what material he will have at his I command should any emergencv arise. He ! will inspect the various companies, after I which a march through the -principal j streets of the city will take place.