DUMMY RIFLES

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 317, 30 September 1940, Page 3

DUMMY RIFLES

“BROOMSTICK ARMY” TRAINING IN BRITAIN FIRST STEPS IN DRILL MOVEMENT SWEEPS U.K. Britain is once again training thousands of men in the first steps of army drill by the use of broomsticks. The new “broomstick army,” which has sprung up in almost every city of the United Kingdom since the crisis in Flanders, is part of the country’s answer to the problem: What shall we do with- our young men who are waiting to go into the army? -

Listeners heard in the broadcast from Da veil try last night how thousands of men are drilling each day at the big sports grounds placed at the disposal of the Home authorities by football clubs and other organisations ; how their numbers have grown by the addition of members of the home-defence units, including the “parashots” of various neighbourhoods; and how the public in general regard this new training avenue.

All tliis has arisen out of a realisation, which came at the time ot the evacuation of Dunkirk, that Britain must prepare to face alone the next phase of the war with Germany. The calling-up of uieu for the army proceeded so rapidly, under 'the impulse of 'the crisis, that the a,nmy could nob hope to handle the recruits whose registrations came pouring in. Kitchener’s Army Precedent Facilities for dealing with the new classes were speeded up, but it was agreed that months must pass before Britain’s '1,000,000 men up to the ago o£ 20 years could bo absorbed. The problem was to siave as much lime as possible, and the "broomstick Army” is helping to overcome that problem.

Recalling that Kitchener’s army of 1915 was partially-trained in ci-J viliiui clothes, and without weapons other than those improvised from broun-sitieks and tool-handles, various people fir the United Kingdom put forward fho suggestion that similar methods might cut down the period of training in tho preparation of the new conscript armies. The London Daily Express asked: “What matter if they were not in khaki, if they carried broomsticks instead of rifles until their equipment was ready?” The question was taken up from end to end of tho country, and the Home authorities suddenly found themselves faced with a demand for recognition of “private armies raised by individuals and organisations from Land’s End to John o Groats. B.E.F. Veterans as Instructors 1 Drill instructors were obtained Irom the ranks of the old 8.E.F., and with the official sanction of the Government, the waiting youth of Britain began to train in civilian clothes and with the yards of business houses, asi well as tho grounds ot tho football clubs, as their parade spaces. Tho Government recognised the mine of the movement at once, and made arrangements to supply army boots to those undertaking this form of training. Army boots in Britain cost 9s Jld per pair, readers will be interested to know; and the issue is not confined to those who arc actually under notice to join the army. “Parashots? members of the organisation formed to deal specifically with parachute troops —and other auxiliaries of all types arc able to secure the boots, as tlie result of the slashing of red tape that lias taken place since the Dunkirk evacuation in particular. Numbers Rocket Upward Municipal authorities are vying with each other in offering facilites for the training of “broomstick army” groups. In almost every instance, the provision made has been found to be inadequate, lor everyone of suitable age not already in the forces seems to regard the ‘‘broomstick army” as tho best alternative to actual military service. Theatres, skating rinks, parks, and all manner of public amenities arc being employed, and parades are being held day and night. “They can have everything they want!” declared the. Mayor of Dover, for instance, when asked foi details of what the municipality was doing to aid the civilian trainees. . . -That statement covers a Jot ot ground, and applies, appailmtly, to almost every community in Britain. The broomstick patriots are taking their work seriously, and the community is taking it seriously, too.