TERRITORIAL FORCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23897, 26 August 1939, Page 14

TERRITORIAL FORCE

EFFICIENCY DRIVE APPEAL TO OFFICERS CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. A personal appeal to officers of the territorial force to do their inmost to bring their units up to the maximum points of efficiency is made by the Chief of the General Staff (Major-general J. E. Duigan) in a letter which has been circulated from army headquarters, Wellington. The letter has been sent to every commissioned officer on the active list of the territorial force. “ For many years the territorial force has been under strength,” writes General Duigan. “ Training has suffered, particularly the most important clement, the training of leaders. A great deal has been done in the last few years, and I do want to express my thanks to the regular staff and the territorial officers, who have done excellent work over a most difficult period. Government and public support and enthusiastic team-work on the part of everyone connected with recruiting have now built up every territorial unit to reasonable strength for peace training. In some cases units are now approaching war establishment. Moreover, the volunteers who have come forward are pood types and keen to do their duty. Responsibility on Officers "A big responsibility now rests upon every territorial officer and his n.c.o.’s to see that this splendid opportunity is not wasted —an opportunity which has not occurred since 191fi.' You have good men and enough of them. You have access to good training equipment, and, with the use of motor transport, good training areas. Modern equipment is coming to hand as quickly as the British Government can supply it. The conditions of service in the territorial force are excellent. You have the backing of the Government, and, most important of all, you have public support expressed, or soon to be expressed, through your local Territorial Association. “With all these advantages the territorial units should make excellent progress with their training. It is up to every territorial officer to do his best to see that his own unit is as efficient as possible as early as possible. We are living in troublous times when the international situation may deteriorate very rapidly and the territorial force mav be called upon to undertake the duty for which it has been raised the defence of New Zealand. Confidence in Leaders “ I feel sure that every territorial officer will do his best and get on with the task of preparation. As a leader lie must be trained himself and as a leader he must do everything possible to train his men efficiently and to develop in them the team spirit on which so much will depend if they are called upon to take the field. “ Remember, you have to a greater extent than ever before the support of your own people and your own community. Loyalty and team work are most essential in a fighting organisation. We are all striving for a common end —an efficient territorial army. I feel confident that you will do your part.” INCREASED ENROLMENTS NATIONAL MILITARY RESERVE (Per United Press Association; WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. The effect of the tension in Europe was reflected in the enrolments for the National Military Reserve yesterday, the number enrolled being nearly double the daily enrolments during the past week. The average enrolments recently has been about 70 daily; yesterday it was 130. The state of the reserve is: Class 1, 2258; class 2, 7063; class 3. 5287. In addition 2953 men who are not eligible for service have enrolled, making a total of 17,561, or 14,608 effective reservists. LOCAL RECRUITS INCREASED NUMBER OFFERING An immediate result of the dangerous situation in European affairs has been the increase in the number of recruits offering in Dunedin for the Territorial Army and registrations in the National Military Reserve. The figures for the Territorials have not been included in the latest returns, as those who have enlisted during the past week have not yet been medically examined or attested. This will be carried out at the next parade of the unit they intend joining. During the last week 14 recruits were examined and attested, 10 for the Otago Mounted Rifles, one for the artillery, three for the Dunedin section of the Southern District Signal Company, and 12 for the Otago Regiment. Totals for the various units since the commencement of the recruiting campaign on May 22 arc now as follows: —Otago Mounted Rifles. 133; Artillery. 131; Otago Regiment, 208; Signal Section, 18; Scottish Unit, 10; Otago University Medical Company, 45; a total of 545. The National Military Reserve registrations for Oamaru and Dunedin total 1242, of which 157 are in class 1, 405 in class 2, and 475 in class 3. There were 205 not eligible. The increase over the past week was 29, while 11 registration cardswere received on Thursday. This was about double the number returned each day for some time, the average being between five and seven.