MODERN ARMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26504, 4 July 1947, Page 6

MODERN ARMY

IMPORTANCE OF SUPPLY VALUE OF CIVILIAN TRAINING "The policy of the Returned Services’ Association covers the provision of armed forces by New Zealand adequate to meet the Dominion’s full share of the British Commonwealth and Empire’s commitments,” said Mr M. S. Myers, president of the Dunedin R.S.A., when, asked to comment on Mr H. E. Barrowclough’s statement on defence policy published yesterday. “ Mr Barrowclough’s remarks concerning the type of comprehensive training and education in all matters covering the sources of supply to art army will unquestionably interest ex-servicemen.” Demands on Efficiency The old saying “ that an army marches on its stomach ” conveyed a simple truth easily understood. Mr Myers stated. It was perhaps less well understood that modern armies could exist, function and fight only when they incorporated immense and efficient services of supply. These services, which provided food, fuel, transportation (with its repair and maintenance services), clothing, ammunition, and all war-like and engineeer stores, reached a size and demanded an efficiency far transcending the requirements of even the largest and best-managed commercial ventures. “The- staffing of these supply services calls, therefore, as Mr Barrowclough stressed, for the maximum Use and training of men who, from their civilian career and experience, should be fitted to undertake these greater tasks of supply, distribution, recovery salvage, and repair in war,” Mr Myers said. “ Such training would appear to be practicable, only along the lines suggested by Mr Barrowclough. It takes a civilian army some time to realise that in order that it may be prodigal with equipment and supplies when extravagant use of such items is necessary in combat, wise economy has at other times to be practised whenever this is possible. Conservation of Supplies “It takes time, coo, for men to realise that, by the extent to which it is possible for them by co-operation to minimise the demands of their services of supply on factories, arsenals, mills, etc., so do they lessen the number of men who have to be kept at home in reserved occupations. A complete understanding, therefore, of the modern army’s services of supply and their problems will help to eliminate waste," he added, “ and It will thereby increase the numbers of reinforcements the country will be able to supply during the. period of a war, should one again arise.”