THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 6

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

3t Sextet.

Thoughtful and systematic effort is gradually swelling the numbers of the local branch of the New Zealand National Keserve. , . . Sergeant-major E. Purdon has been a-p-» pointed second lieutenant, N.Z, Staff Corps. The advancement is one that is thoroughly merited. As musketry instructor Lieutenant Purdon • adds to an intimate acquaintance with the science of his art the zeal of an enthusiast. „ , , Staff Sergeant-major W. 0. S. Colclougn (W. 0.) has been appointed lieutenant. The deliberations of the recent conference in Wellington are not yet made public, but it is understood that proposals embodying the recommendations of General Sir lan Hamilton will be submitted to Parliament shortly for approval. It is understood that in the important matter of home v. concentration camp companies will be definitely “ labelled ” as home training companies or companies training at concentration camps. The units, training at concentration camps will be as largo as possible, the minimum being a platoon. The broad idea, of course, is to introduce a more effective and less expensive method of training the country Territorials and to save time and expense to the Territorial away from the centres. Some country Territorials have had to travel considerable distances in winter to attend parades, and in addition to the time consumed, have been put to expense as high as 5s or 6s for food fer themselves and their horses before getting home again. It is claimed that the training will be of much greater value, as it can be made progressive on the successive days in camp. As far as possible these concentration camps will be held just prior to the annual camps, the whole training of the units concerned being thus accomplished in one continuous period. There will bo no Divisional camp this year, but in all probability Regimental camps will bo the rule. Those cpnps may be held simultaneously or otherwise, but it is understood the final camps will be at least a month earlier than was the case last military year. Country cadets as well as country Territorials will be required to put in their training at concentration camps. In this way it is expected they will be brought upon a level with city cadets, who have better facilities for training. Hitherto the regulations have provided that no cadet (other than a defaulter) was required to attend camp.

Amongst the prospective changes is the substitution of tno name “eub-areas” for “groups.” The four adjutants of infantry regiments and the three adjutants of mounted regiments, with the staff N.C.0.-’s and the brigade' majors, will be reallotted, so that the smaller units may be trained more efficiently. The members of the staff will go back to their regiments when required in connection with camps.

Arrangements for the camp at the Heads in August for all Otago Territorials not efficient for 1913-14 are being made. It is understood that about 700 throughout the district have made themselves liable for attendance at this camp for shorter or longer periods. , Some have already received from the magistrate their orders to attend. Others will avoid the courts by complying with the notification from tho Defence Department. Captain Bruce S. Hay will be in command of the camp. With respect to Defence Rifle Clubs, there will be in future no such distinctions as “Active,” “Junior,” “Senior” members, but all will be classed together a,i ordinary members. The president of each club will see that the training performed by members of the clubs and by members of the general training section attached is entered into the personal record books, and that the area officer is notified accordingly. Lads enrolling as Senior Cadets do not undergo medical examination. At the beginning of the present scheme cadets were medically examined, but such is not the practice now. Before passing into the Territorials, however, cadets must bo medically examined. In the case of a cadet of a Territorial applying for exemption on medical grounds a certificate is first obtained from any medical man, and the cadet or Territorial is then examined by a board of medical men appointed by the military authorities. . This board decides for or against exemption. In future officers on tho unattached list serving with Senior Cadets will not be required to attend annual camps. O.C. Districts will, however, afford such officers os may wish to carry out this training every opportunity of doing so by attaching them to Territorial units.

The following addition has been made to paragraph 332 of the regulations:—“No officer is eligible to sit for promotion until he has completed a year in his existing substantive rank, and has performed his obligatory training for the year.” The King, accompanied by the Queen and Princess Mary spent four days in May with the troops at Aldershot. Cavalry, infantry, and artillery quarters were all in-

spected, and then their Majesties were shown what catering for an army means. The Army Service Corps’ butchers’ issuing department had on view 65 sides of homekilled and five quarters of frozen beef hung side by side to enable the King and Queen to make a comparison between the two sources of supply. The home-killed meat represented one issue to 27,000 men. It was' explained that slaughtering took place on three days a week, and 90 head of oxen were thus accounted for. They all came from Norfolk, were inspected by an officer, and slaughtered under veterinary supervision by Army Service Corps butchers. _ The largest bullock shown to the Koval visitors was 11431 b clear dead weight. The bakery was the next place of call. Here batches of loaves were being scaled and moulded, ovens were being drawn, and quantities of dough coming down the hoppers. The Queen, on questioning the master baker, learnt that 23,0001 b of bread, in 21b loaves, are baked per day, and that the output on the occasion of manoeuvres has been worked up -to 99,0001 b, and could in emergency be raised to 155,0001 b. Twentyseven bakers are daily employed. Her Majesty was curious to know how such quantities of dough were prepared, end was informed that the mixing was by electricity, save in respect of about 25 per cent., which was done by hand, the object of this being to keep the men’s hands in for field work in case of need. The bread store showed a capacity of 44,8001 b, which is cleared every clay, and there are now about 20 tons in store. Large additions to the cavalry force are to be made to cover the Army Council’s abandonment of “mounted infantry.” An early Gazette 'will announce the organisation of a Fifth Cavalry Brigade, with headquarters at York, and with Colonel Sir Philip Chetwode, of the 19th Hussars, its brigadier. The men for' the brigade are at hand in the regiments lately quartered in South Africa, and a sixth brigade is needed if the doctrine of the General Staff is to be carcaried out. When all cavalry have returned from South' Africa, there will be nine regiments in India, one in Egypt, and 18 at Home, besides the Household _ Cavalry, which form- one regiment on service.