INTERNAL DEFENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 18

INTERNAL DEFENCE.

OPERATION OF THE NEW ACT. WELLINGTON, March 16. Defence matters in the Dominion are just now in a complete transition stage. The Volunteers ceased to be, and were instantaneously resurrected by act of Parliament as Territorials, but there is a feeling of uncertainty about future operations. The military authorities are unable to completely enlighten the public just now in regard to future development, but it is clear from what has been done so far that the Territorials, otherwise the Volunteers, have an immensely improvedstatus. Capitation has been substantially increased so as to enable old liabilities, to be cleared and full equipment provided, and a scale of pay for camp attendances hivs been provided which will bring in more revenue to the battalion coffers. As soon as the whole scheme becomes operative there need be no more trouble about recruiting,, for in the absence of Volunteers the commander will simply requisition his district superior for the men required to fill the deficiency, and will get them from the general training section. Old Volunteers who are still unattached to their company can remain under the new and improved conditions, and need not retire until the visual retiring age of 50 is reached. Each regiment of the Territorial Forces will have attached to it a permanent instructor. It is to the non-volunteer that the new Defence Act will come as a call for selfsacrifice. Efficient Volunteers are to be exempt from the compulsory training, tout the young man who has not gone in for volunteering will now be obliged to do a certain amount of military training, lo make the position clear we will trace a school boy through the various stages ol his development in the primary school Between the ages of 12 and 14 he will be attached to the Junior Cadets uw 14 to 18 his place will.be .in the bemoi Cadets. If he leaves school it makes no difference to his liability he can still be attached to the local Cadet corps. Upon attafS the age of 18 the youth will be faced wTth an Important problem, which he will be free to "solve as suits his sense o" patriotism or his disinclination to share tL 1 burden as well a, the pnvi eges o citizenship. These are the Uu 7 e i< s; n-wives one of which must be selected : S iSuse military duty and suffer the penalties imposed oy a court of law (I) 1 S ™of voun/men will select their medium, but the camp will be attractive enough to we average Jealthy individual, and his experience ol it will make him better fitted for his civ 1 as well as his military, obligations The camn work will be under the instruction .° £eX» of the Permanent Force, and wU probably take lines similar to the Present company drill. The " raw material avil learn how to take sentry and outpost dutj to reconnoitre, to do efficient work with the rifle in the trenches, and also to handle the shovel to make the trenches. The ordinary altack and defence movements, including skirmishing will be provided, and the budding soldier taught to look after himself both in regard to hygiene and the proper utilisation of rations. No social position can be respected-all are liable for service, and there will be the same opportunity tor evervone with a liking for military pursuits" to continue them and secure promotion by merit, and merit only. There are 21550 Volunteers or Territorials in the Dominion, but the military experts are ot opinion that 30.000 highly-tiramed men should be available if New Zealand is to defend itself effectively, and the whole ot this big force can be obtained by training the physically fit males between the ages of 17 and 21. To equip the increased number more arms have to be imported, while the arrangement of training camps and provision for instruction is a big preliminary task before the eligible men can be called upon to put in their training. A proclamation will shortly be issued cailmig upon all eligible persons to register their names with the prescribed officer according to the act. The enrolment upon the register of a school attended by the individual is a sufficient registration, but failure to enrol under other circumstances renders the defaulter liable to a fine. As a man who serves in the Territorials will not be required to put in time at the training camp, it is anticipated that a great impetus will be Riven to the Volunteer side of the defence movement. One of the chief difficulties in carrving out the general scheme is the liability to cause dislocation—or, at anyrate, serious inconvenience—in some branches of industry; but to avoid this the general training period will be spread over five or six months of the vear, and batches of several hundreds will be taken periodically from the different districts. The preparation-of the list of eligible males will go on almost immediately, and it is anticipated that the first batch of men will go into camp about the beginning oT next year.