AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18077, 29 April 1922, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

REORGANISING FORCES. REDUCTIONS IN PERSONNEL, [raoif ofb own ] SYDNEY, April 19. The Minister for Defence and the members of the Military Board are at present | engaged in framing the new policy for the j defence forces of the Commonwealth. I One of the most important matters to :he decided before th« policy can be framed is the future f compulsory miiitarv training and the citizen forces. U is "regarded as certain thai, although tin : training might he restricted 'o the mori populous areas, iwing to 'lie aige amount ,of money involved n the provision of stores and the attendance tit uisinunorp ' m outlying districts, there- will be a re- : duct'.on of personnel of all the existing units. Tlie object is to retain an organisation which would be capable of providing the nucleus of an efficient irmy n I the event of war. To obtain 'he I but efficient citizen force, it is likely that I the standard it physical fitness will he raised, and that, although 'he compui , sory training system will be retained. citizen soldiers will be selected from tinmost enthusiastic youths. To reduce i!u I expenditure a number of senior >r!icers un ; the general staff will be retired and com 1 pensated, and t is expected that the : permanent staff of officers -md jmn-oorn i missioned officers will be reduced.