THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13985, 19 August 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES.

FIRST REPORT OF THE DEFENCE COUNCIL.

~ ■WELLINGTON, August 9. Tho question of defence is ono that engages increasing attention as the years go by, Boßi ffoin tho Imperial point 6f view and also from tho point of view of the outer Empire. This year's New Zealand Defence- Report is tho first that lias been received from tho new council; and oh that account a special interest attaches' lit it.

POLICY;

..Tho,first, question dealt with is the iriattor of policy. Taking all circumstances into consideration, it was decided that tho pplioy of defence should for tho present fcoMfcuiuo that regulations bo iuido arid amended to further encourage bhlistriifent and bbtairt offioieriby;' that provision lxj mado for forming reserves, for riioro decentrab'sation, increasing tho powers,.and: initiative of district commanders, arid for the completion of staffs, 0f6., and generally that endeavours bo iriado to popularise tho forco ill t-hti eyes of the public; that the force be for service iri defence of tho colony, oversea contingents required at any time being ' raised arid equipped as a. special force; • ■ that coast dbfonoo be considered; atld wliou dfceide'd untin, gono on witlt and maintained in relation to the 'naval policy existing between the Hbme Cduhlry drid bur colony. t Should the Volunteer ■ Force hot bo maintained or brought un to an cfiicient sliito, Yoluntccrhlg his ha'd its last cliatioe. If the general publio is iii earnest as, to defence, It iilust itself assist and ehsuTO that under the Volunteer system sufiieieut enlistment is made,- aiid tKit.oitco men are enlisted they attend rcgulafly. Tho alternative is a systcrii of iihiVcrsal. or compulsory training, 'whereby the burdcli of service in tlio defence forces will lie riioro ovenly distributed. ';

MptiiJTED. RIFLES AND INFANTRY. It is shown under heading " Instructional and Equipment" Hal much has to be aottb to- improve tliesfe very Jrdbwfeiit b'r'aiifches'. of Th 6 council, does pot. con-' Gidbr imy.gtfod can., come front.britlcastncr ,(l!e past; biit if Yotctl tlio .feiipoly, to cxerciso every effort to tho 'further im- : proyemenit of these arms, tho result of which will form matter for jiext year's report. The mounted rifles are handicapped by- the--long rifle now.bn iestic, An'rirrldttjit is on tho Ertiinates to bring tho present stock of short rifles Sri fo ,a number Sifß : cfoht to arm the mounted force. ! : STRENGTH OF. THE,. FORCES. ; ;, . Tlio strength of the forces for J9C6;7 was as. follows :,—Headquarters, staff; .8; district staff, 45; peririaricrii forces, R.N.&4. arid R.N.Z.E., 361; .garrison artiller;' Ydlun-' teors,--929; field artillery,. 461; rab: marine' and field engineers, " 470; mounted tides, 4189; ■ •infantry.;'63Bl j .. field hospital and bearer corps; Bii; defence cadet?, 309/1; rifle dubs; 3141; gar- • rison ■bauds, 142: actifo .iiristtaoHed officers; 101 i-igrilitl tbfeil, 20,033; '' This' force is distributed asV follbwji:. Au'cMsjid' 3397; .Wellington, 675(1; Nelson, 2010;. Canterbury, 3237; Otago; 4639.

EQUIPMENT. . • .The council states that a iJofiried-po'Jicy' 13 necessary as regakld eqiiipriieht; Tho bid method of getting equipment,'. in iri-egulir lots niust, bb. .discbnitihiletl.- The amount asked for slto'uid be granted to at once equip a part of the force for. active field service—i.e.: (a) A rce'ei-ve of . rifles should bg Sbiaihwi tti ,liririg Uio rillniber in the colony..ifj) ,tb 50,01)0;. (b) ; c'qiil(Jinfent to cornplbtb the personnel arid mobilisation equiphierit for a:first lino .force flhpiiid.bo, ready in emergency to meet surprise, raid, and for issue froni tiirtc to titiib 1 for jidaco training and riiah&uvrc; A . iiiiliinhim nu'hifei; of vehicles fbrming a nucleus .for training medical and army service corps, etc., should, to bejjiri,with; Jib siifiident fmVSay, ISOO men at each 61 the four districts having defended ports, with 500,-for Nelson district, with an ctjuipmfe'ht df. rith'gofiriders; riies3', tins and covers, l Tvaferproof sheds, baiidbiibrs. blitrohaliing idols, ■ bai<ip and equipafb; Kavofsacis, • w'ittorboffiea, IclogfapH cat Is, rirribulan&a waggons, medical water-carts, oarts; arid packsaddles for sthaii arms; ammunition supply, general fiold service waggiins, auigicat haybrsacks,. a'ii'd llariices. Provision ■ for these articles is criibodied hi the Estimates. Tho greater part ofthesb can lie-made iri the colony; . ' . . . TR-AiNING ANfi INSTRUCTION; ■■■:■.

On this subject flio report states thai men without londors can do little. Leaders without,- kribwlejtgo arc a positive. danger. Facilities, , therefore, for gaining ih'3truc? tion miisfc'bb given .to tHe.ilefcrico forces of the colony. THij instruction of the. aftil r lory services. is : : goßd. Kid should ■ yet improve. Tho; field engineer? liav'6 boeii handicapped., Tho .arrival of Ijitf instfuSof lately, asked, for ,xvill remedy this. .There field hospital arid,bearer corps aro officered and irStrubted by pffitcssioal gentlomeii who well uh'derstaha the. mora important part of their wbrk. , In, tho past tjio mounted rifles arid infantry, (tho men wh(> life tho. rifles) luvo 'boon, sbridusly Handicapped owing to tlio want.. of', sufficient iristriiotersj as may be seen by, a perusal of. tho.. slaiomeut showing this, avdilabia instructional staif. for tho ccjoiriy.. -An' pfiicer instructor of, irlburited tißbs fqif- ejie.li island has only lately, becti appointed; Tnjj. -wonder . is; under , these , that, this most important branch'of .a.field forcS. knows . Art jthihjj ,4.t fill, beyond tho merest iHidimenfis of, drili and muskpiry; .•' It. is expected that t|ie system of instruction' now laid dowh'whereby there is the: district an instructional stjiff constantly bpcratirig tliroiigho'iit.eadl). district) with, a, general instructional staff to move fegitlarly round thle districts' for. tlio higher tralnlrigj. arranging for continuous courses, ..wlj&rb possible, and on evenings and half-h6!iday3 for thoso who cannot give obntimious.attertdanco, will better tlio present state of'affairs and enable a progressive policy of, military education to be carried but. To this end the instructional Sfalff irt each, district lias already been brbiight together fof- .n. short (ferr&ctitig course. This was needed,, liowV ever, the result. showing thai the ■ grbjlfßsi' care' must bo takcit ih this' selection fif hi: struotors; arid even thbli both apH' bfficbf iristfiictors to' bb ifcfiadically tested and tixnnilliea:' Arfangenibhts. _ itbo being made'for a 6pvfe'ri to fori day's cbiitiiiiious course of iiistHiqf.ib'ii iii each district ht a sililabld time and place. should efficient .officers,fie found ,td attend; ciVibfabing drill; hiiiskbtry, toptics; 'anil adnlitiistfatibn;. . Facilities will ilso bo giveh to such officers who cahriot attend dilring it tontiniidtlfl c'ohrso; . By ] thlH mpufis the hijjlibr training bf the 'clfice'fs will receive attoiltiofi; iiiid ' during the Kiimifiiir a series of tactical exercises ittltl Fl'lfT fides will btj arranged.in. districts■ Oil themes itikl.. details, furbished by head; ijlittftcfii. The establiehnielii; bf a cadro of haftcs at the fccHtrc is h'bfetSary ta ensure e'fficifeho'y in titir fibid artillery and for' iise also by field ciigluoots'i mctliddl cby|is; M for tvnlriihg ii huoletis of:a supply find transport section. With the vehicles asked fdf', thest) Hulres fori Ihi niitflo somewhat self-Suppbrtifip,- anil ccfr tavilly lid Hi the greatest Usbtbtbo mounted rifles atltl infantry ili their daylight parades' and hlanfeirvrc camps; ; Failing this, -tile., annual grant for. hire of horses Bhouid be doubled; to enable.' contracts to be made fat regular training during tilt jeiir. ■ ■'