TRAINING THE TROOPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9961, 3 May 1918, Page 7

TRAINING THE TROOPS

COLONEL GIBBON’S VIEWS PRESENT SYSTEM HAS ITS ADVANTAGES. HE WOULD NOT SHORTEN THE PERIOD HERE. The most important evidence given by Colonel Gibbon before tho Defence Expenditure Commission yesterday was in relation to the present period of training troops in New Zealand. The point has been raised as to whether the troops should net bo sent to England earlier to receive the more concentrated training at Sling Camp. The question was put to Colonel Gibbon by Sir Robert Anderson (the chairman of [tire Commission): — “Are you satisfied with the present period, of training for members of the Expeditionary Force? if not, should it bo shorter or longer?” Colonel- Gibbon, reply, made tho following statement “The question of the length of training in New Zealand resolves itself into two problems;— .* (a) Whether the New Zealand present system of training men prior to embarkation is correct, or whether it wduld be Preferable to embark recruits at tho earliest possible moment to undergo their whole training in the United Kingdom. fb) If tho New Zealand system be correct, whether the sixteen weeks’ course of training-which, at present obtains can be. reduced or not with duo regard to efficiency. “The most important period of the soldier’s training is that constituted by his first two or throe months’ service. tinder tho system of embarking men as soon as possible, there is no opportunity to instil discipline and soldierly ,spirit. The real training does not commence until the man has : received nearly three months’ sex-vice, one in New Zealand and two at sea. _ Further, under, such a system there is no opportunity for one draft iix New Zealand to sec an exampleto another. Wo have found by experience that one draff: exercises a groat influence for pood over another. A draft which has required the influence of example from one draft, later on may in its turn se+ an example to another. This aspect of the problem is a most important one. since the slightest tendency towards disorderly conduct reacts unfavourably on recruiting throughout tho Dominion.

TBut under the present system the New Zealand recruit is instructed in discipline and soldierly spirit under a carefully thought out scheme right from the day he comes into camp, and this continues without break until ho actually arrives in tho firing lino. It is considered That raising men in this fas- , ->n dlul. Ciil'ryfug tlu-i r training un:“erna: definite programme produces bet-, ter results than if they were sent to the United Kingdom as a disorganised mob Ko their training there. The. difficulty in inculcating discipline in a ma« of men who have acquired uncheel--ind i?ciplino is infinitely ■ more., difficult , than in tho case of men whose' instruction, commence, and continues without break from the very- start of then- military life.

REPUTATION. OF N.Z. SOLDIERS. training her soldiers in leuland1 euland IS , th ? fc iNe " r Zealand solllav ?, rarely, it over, brought discredit.on the Dominion overseas, at .ports ox- call,--in--t'lie 'United''Kih<'dofiii 'or in Egypt. The reputation of New Zealand rests in the bauds of her soldiero, and every effort should be, and is, made to enable ■ them to acquit lthemsalv.es' to her honour. Everyone must admit that the reputation of the New Zealand soldiers is high. It can only he due to two factors:—The inherent qualities of her population, and the training of her soldiers. i'ho present system has enabled the Dominion .to gain a great military reputation out of all proportion to the size of her population. Would the saving in expense involved in a small curtailment of training justify the adoption of a system, which, whilst it has provided elsewhere for the training of men forthcoming, has invariably been accompanied by recruiting difficulties? "The correctness of the New Zealand principle of training men in New Zealand to such a degree of efficiency as is possible to attain has been affirmed on repeated occasions, when it has been found necessary to utilise reinforcements on arrival overseas without delay. The sth Reinforcements, which left New Zealand in 1915, were landed straight from the transports, and sent direct into action on Gallipoli. The draft, owing to the training which it had had in New Zealand, was of great value at a critical moment. During later periods of the war it has, often been found necessary to : send our reinforcements over to Prance, almost as soon as they arrived in. the, United Kingdom. Such emergencies,, .have, .occurred in. the past, and

no doubt they will occur again in the future. It is, therefore, considered that the policy of training tho soldier in New Zealand, as far as is possible under tbo circumstances, is sound and should not be abandoned under any consideration. “The training in New Zealand admits Of a reduction of the period, which would otherwise have to bo spent in the United Kingdom. • This is of obvious importance under the present condition of supplies in tho United Kingdom. Every mouth to be fed is a matter of moment. It is considered that ,it would toe entirely false policy "for Now Zealand to throw on to tho United Kngdom the onus of feeding her soldiers •in training, whilst they eon be rained and, fed in New' Zealand where there, is no difficulty regarding supplies, SUITABLE INSTRUCTORS. "The greatest -difficulty that New Zealand has had to f;j,co in the training of troops in New Zealand has been tho difficulty of obtaining suitable instructors. This ditiioulty was greatest during tho early pa'rt of tho war, when it was absolutely impossible to spare suitable men from tho front to alloiv them' to come back to the Dominion to" carry'out tho training. However, tho -difficulty"ia now practically at an end, and no ‘further difficulties on this score arc anticipated. Every ship brings back a number of men who have seen active service- The returned, officers take charge of the Reinforcements; they also,, furnish Instructors for the Training Camps. Instructors are becoming .available from tho many officers who have been returned to tho Dominion wounded and unfit for further service, but who ultimately become fit to carry out training on homo service m the canipS. “Under present conditions of training, it is possible to take advantage of all shipping possible. Transports can be filled,- ovon .though it. involves the great disadvantageof sending away partially trained men. Mon must, bo given duo notice to come into Camp, whilst shipping conditions change from day to day. If men were to be embarked entirely untrained. it is quite certain that ships would generally sail without the fill! 'complement, -and that men would frequently bo uselessly held in camp. Both results involve loss. ENORMOUS COST SAVED.

Now that shipping space is so valuable, apart from the huso waste of money involved, no man should bo sent to the trout unless ho has been proved, as tar ns may lie practicable prior t o 'embarkation. to be fit for ■ service -nt ■ the ‘front* Useless men only keep serviceable men out on the voyage to (lit United Kingdom, end invalids out on the return voyage. Tho longer the period of training

in New Zealand, tho more chance the Medical Authorities have to eliminate the men who are going to bo of on use at the front. The discharges from the Training Camps amounted to 238 in 19U, 1-113 in 1915. 3166 ■ in 1916. 4472 in 1917, and SSI to 20th April, 1918. Tho cost if these 10,773 men had been sent to the trout and then returned to New Zealand ior discharge would have been enormous. It has been found by experience that the greater number of discharges that occur take place in from the twelfth to the sixteenth week of training, when the men have,been thoroughly tested by the strenuous training they have undergone. Acting on the medical advice, when the recruits first como into fcamp they are not pushed too hard. Accordingly a man may get through the early stages of the training and break down later on. To make the earlier period of training more intensive and to gain a shorter training period thereby would mean breaking down men who are not strong enough to stand a sudden change from indoor life to outdoor camp life with the physical strain of bodily exercise not properly graduated. The system of putting untried men on board with untrained drafts only involves waste of space on board transports, since such men cut out fit men. r urther. they must either be returned to New Zealand, again taking the place of wounded and wornout men for whom it is difficult to find accommodation even under present conditions. or they must be kept in the United Kingdom at the expense of New Zealand, and consuming valuable food. “The present system of sixteen weeks’ training in New Zealand admits of an opportunity to carry out the necessary dental treatment to fit the men for service. One monk I understand would be quite inadequate for even minor treatment; whilst the supply of dentures would be out of the question. VALUE OF THE CAMPS. ‘Tt is considered that the large training camps which have been. maintained in Now Zealand will be productive of considerable experience in regard to tlie handling of large bodies of men. If only the same experience had existed prior to the present war, many of the lessons which have been gradually learnt in the training camps could have been applied at tho outset and matters arranged on occasion differently. Every day further lessons are being learnt, and close studios have been made of the problems which arise. This experience would, to a great extent, be thrown away if the training were carried ®n overseas instead of in the Dominion.

, “It is considered that New Zealand will bo able to obtain appreciable value from the camps which have been erected in this country to enable the training of men to be carried out. The buildings. equipment, etc., will be of great value to the Territorial Force after the war.

“Under the system of training . reinforcements in New Zealand, the money spent on the equipment, buildings, supplies. and pay of the men is spent within the Dominion and not overseas. It is considered that this is an important point, and weight should be given to its bearing on the problem. ~ rL t has been urged that, if New Zealand troops were trained in .the United Kingdom instead of in New'Zealand, a great saving would he effected in. the period of training. This great reduction- of the training period (is scarcely borne out by a close investigation :qL facts. When the Now, Zealand .reinforcements undergo their full period of sixteen weeks’ training, the normal period of training at Sling is five weeks. This statement is based, on General Richardson’s Report No. 23. dated September £Sth, 1917. in -which he says: ‘The period for training of reinforcements at Sling is one month, but latterly greater numbers have been arriving with very little training, and will, therefore, have to be kept l in England . for fourteen weeks to go through a Icbnf-'' plete course.’ In his Report No. 23, he more clearly defines the normal period as five weeks. The drafts. alluded to had to be embarked with only eight to twelve, weeks’ training, owing to shortages on mobilisation. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the New Zealand soldier receives a total of twenty-one weeks’ training, consisting of fourteen weeks in New Zealand and five in' the United Kingdom, and of this ten days are spent on final leave. .Under the system of carrying qut the whole training- in the United Kingdom, a minimum ‘ of • fottr weeks must bo' allowed in Neit Zealand. This is essential from a medical point of view', apart from administrative considerations. Then there is the full period of fourteen weeks of the War Office course of training to bo carried out in the United Kingdom. Four weeks in Nc.v ' ~d could not be considered to reduce this period, since it has already been shown that eight weeks did not do so. Therefore, the total 'period required under the system- is eighteen weeks, with probably an- additional Week for leave prior to embarkation for France. It is considered, however, that the extra two or three weeks entailed by the present New Zealand system is more than counterbalanced by the advantages gained. TIME NOT LOST.

“Again, under the Now Zealand system if troops are temporarily delayed in embarkation, training i« continued, and time is not lost. In tho system of training overseas there would be no - machinor ■ staff for carrying out ; efficient Training, and all extra time so spent in the Dominion would, be lost. Further, when embarkation is considerably delayed beyond the time when the men are considered to be fully efficient os judged by the New- Zealand standard, steps .can be taken |y> grant the men leave' without pay. This course has been adopted in tho case of several Mounted Rifles, Engineers, Artillery, and Army Service Corps drafts, with good results. Nearly 101) per cent, of the men avail' themselves of tho opportunity of taking the leave, even though they lose pay. THE WAR SPIRIT. ! “But there is n more important factor than all others. It is considered that New Zealand’s system of training her recruits ha* already been responsible for tbo maintennnvo of her war spirit, and, consequently, for the share she has taken in tho war, largo in proportion to her size. May wo not perhaps trace a cause of the difficulties which have arisen in Ireland, Canada, and Australia tp the fact, that the recruits of these countries are normally exported for training as soon as possible after they have been enlisted. The effect of such a system on tlie minds of wives, relations and friends must be enormous. Men are torn from their families and homes iq : one blow. Tho effect on women is particularly heavy, and, after all. they form a half of our population, and do much to make the national spirit. Tho New Zealand system acts differently. The man on coming into camp is not finally parted .rom all his interests, his friends, his relations, and bis country. The blow i? softened, lie comes into camp a civilian often opposed to military service. lie undergoes training, and improves perceptibly in physical condition at least. Ho views, in tho maioritv of the cases, ins military,service in a more favourable Tight. Ho enjoys the open air life with plenty qf good comrades. He absorbs 'ho soldierly spirit to n greater pr a less degree. This spirit he passes on to those with whom he conies in contact when on leave, and the national purpose is kept alive. Pinally. by the time ho sails Irom tire Dominion, ho is generally ready to play the game, ho is out to do his host, and his friends and relations have boon accustomed gradually to his departure. Tho public see tho raw recruit as lie goes into camp; they’ see him on final leave, on visits to Hie camps or m ( ’ ni ; l , r,r katioii time. There is no doubt hat thq : ,training in New Zealand has helped to-ercate the patriotic spirit which has rendered the Military Service Act possible.

‘ Under present circumstances every possible available space in slupning Imv•n<r New Zealand is ear-marked for New Zo-dand rob'ipvs. The ure°nt call is for men. Surely (he Now Zealand system which enables tho man to, go to

France a month, after arrival is infinitely more valuable to the Empire than a system which entails three and a half months’ delay. New Zealand embarks trained men to furnish her quota of reinforcements, whilst other Dominions embark raw recruits. Therefore, the New Zealand division is in a stronger position than any force maintained by the other system, since it can utilise its drafts two and a half ' monha" earlier. Moreover, there is a greater probability of a smaller number of rejections, since the unfits have been weeded out in New Zealand.

A CORRECT POLICY. r, I think I have shown that the Defence Department not only has grounds, but is correct in its policy of carrying out a considerable part of the , soldier’s training prior to embarkati<m. '. It now remains to consider the possibility of reducing the normal period of training of sixteen week*-, .“The most i , ; :ortant branch of training in camp -e the inculcation of discipline and the soldierly spirit. It is not considered that these can be cultivated in a short period of time. • If an attempt is made to “cram” discipline and soldierly spirit, it simply means that the effect is superficial. It is hot instilled as an instinct and ns >a habit. The voyage to the United Kingdom exercises a deteriorating effect' on discipline, and, if the standard of discipline were lower, the deterioration would be even greater and more serious in its after effects. Discipline and soldierly spirit mean a great deal in the present war.' Discipline has fr.equently saved the lives of our men. Its importance cannot be overrated. lam of opinion • that a minimum of sixteen weeks is necessary, to lay the foundation of good discipline, and I would like to have a longer time. “Early in the war the Army Council requested that New Zealand • reinforcements should receive at least two months’ training prior to embarkation'. The minimum period was originally taken as the standard, but was not.found, to be long enough to produce results satisfactory to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. ' ■

"Admitting that the policy of training in Now Zealand is correct, it stands to reason that the object must he to train the *uen to such a standard as will admit of the reduction of the training period in the United Kingdom to a minimum. General Richardson in his Report No. 22 alludes to the normal (period in Sling as “one month,’ and in. his Report No. 23 as ‘five weeks.’ It is considered that it would he useless to attempt to reduce this period, since, a month is essential to enable men to become fit after the long voyage and to equip them for service in France. The normal 'period of sixteen weeks’ training, therefore, would appear (o he sufficiently long. It remains then to consider the possibility of reducing the f’Nteon weeks. All reports from the United Kingdom show that when the training period in New Zealand has Ibeon curtailed, fault has been found with the training. General Richardson in his Report No. 23 states ihat the training period in Sling had to be increased to (ho full course of fourteen weeks, and in his Report No. 2t to nine weeks to make up for loss of training in New Zealand. The drafts in' question were embarked with largo numbers of men of only eight ami twelve weeks’ training respectively. This shows that any reduction of the training period of sixteen weeks in Now Zealand , is aecnmpnnied hv a disproportionate addition to the training in Sling. In other words (ho shorter period of training in New Zealand has not sufficient depth to with-

stand the disintegrating effects of the long except under the compuisib’rT of hVcossit’y 'which arises from time-id’ 'tiidfe; there should"' be no reduction Jh the 'Sixteen weeks’- course. ■gua3,Di!N;;cADLS. “Even granted a. . standard period of sixteen, weeks’ trarning, it has -frequently been tound necessary to send away .draffs..which had mainly only undergone eight or twelvo.uweL'kfittr twining. This ‘has been rendered “uoeessacy • owing to sudden calls for- increased reinforcements, to ~.dia.it£.,,,ooming. ..up-short, to isolation by the medical authorities, to leave granted by Military Service Boards, to discharges, and .to deserters. Men must frequently be transferred from draft to another to make up shortages on embarkation. Under present conditions, of shipping, space cannot be wa-st-edi'ihor can* “trahtapblcts be ..delayed in New-' Zealand’ “’portfe" at ’ day longer than is absolutely necessary for loading. It has frequently been found: necessary to embark a draft a week or two prior, to its proper date of sailing, in order not to delay a. transport.. It is., with the 'utmost reluqtaaifq.,Jihpil the Defence Department embarks mou with less than the full period ,of training, ..and then only when compelled by absolute, necessity. , .

“The question has been raised as to whether the New Zealand training has not been rendered useless, or .at- least largely discounted bv . the long voyage. It is admitted that, the standard of trainring, and discipline do fall during thevoyage. But it is certain that when the sixteen weeks’ course has been completed a vei'y few days’ work enables, the men. to again reach 'their old efficiency. A short refresher course’ only is needed, not a full course. But the’temporary effect of a long voyage is 1 not peculiar to Now Zealand troops, as a similar result was observed in, the cafe of . regular troops sent on long voyages prior to the pro. sent war. Moreover, tho training in New' Zealand has started the men in tho right way, and' every report from the Base Depot emphasises the rapidity with which tho men pick ,up the special technical training' for (lie trenches. PERIOD IP ANYTHING TOO SHORT. “It ,must not be forgotten that the sixteen weeks nominally spent in comp does no really mean ,a period of lucre than twelve weeks’ training. The mba do not begin to arrive in camp until nearly tho middle of tho mobilisation week, ami some men do hot arrive until tho end of tho week. ■ Embarkation again cuts into the last week. Tho sixteen ' weeks nominally spout in camp is roughly made up as follows:—Mobilisation, ono week; final leave, two weeks broken into; embarkation. inoculation, etc., one week; training, twelve woeljs. Moreover, out of the twelve weeks’ training,’a considerable portion- oEtinio must bo deducted for-camp.-duties, fatigues, work, sickness, and special leave.

*The period of twelve weeks’ training and four weeks spent otherwise at present obtaining in camp is in my opinion the absolute minimum for infantry artillery, ,Jn the cose-of Mounted Rifles, when men, have to ho taught mounted work and horsemanship as well as dismounted work.' and in view of tho Handicap of’traifiing in Hgpyt, the training Pcnod_ extends to twenty weeks. Tho latter period is also necessary for ma-chine-gunners and signallers, who must be trained ns..infantry..before taking up t lieir cpeeialisi: training. The period of (raining in. New Zealand is too short, if anything, considering the results to be obtained.’’