AUSTRALIAN – DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18545, 4 May 1922, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN - DEFENCE

MILITARY FORCES- TO BE REORGANISED. (tnou Otra Ow* Coßnsroiranrr.) SYDNEY, April 19. The Minister for Defence and the member* >f the Military Board. are, at present enraged in framing, the now policy lor the defence forces of the Commonwealth. One of the most important matters to be decided before the policy can be framed is the future of compulsory military training, and the . Citizen Forces. It is regarded as certain that, although the training might be restricted to the more populous areas, owing to the large amount' of money involved in the provision of'- stores and the ■ attendance of instructors in outlying districts, there .will he a reduction of personnel of all the existing' units. The object is to retain an organisation which 'Would be capable of providing the nucleus of ; an efficient army in the erent of war.-. To obtain the email.but efficient Citizen Force* it is- likely the standard of physical fitness will be raised, and that, although the compulsory training system will be retained, citizen soldiers will be' selected from the most enthusiastic yiutha. To reduce'the expenditure a number of senior officers on the General will be retired and compensated, and it is expected, that the permanent staff of officers and non-commissioned, officers will be reduced. . The ' proportion of training whicn will be allotted to the “home” and continuous periods will "halve to' be' decided.