THE DEFENCE FORCES

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 25

THE DEFENCE FORCES

REVIEW OF WORK DONE. WELLINGTON, Juno 24. In the course of his annual report on the Defence Forces of Now Zealand. Brigadiergeneral Robin points out that concurrently with the strain of training and forwarding regular reinforcements the" Territorial training system has been carried out. Without the Territorial system adopted by Parliament in 1909, it is certain, he says, that the Expeditionary Force despatched to occupy Samoa, the .Main Force, and the reinforcements would not have been so efficiently despatched ami maintained. It is to the credit of the commercial, pastoral, and farming- industries that, despite the strain of enlistment for service abroad, they have so well supported the annual training cf the Territorial Forces. During this time of stress the discipline of these Territorial training camps has been very good indeed. "I specially desire to bring to your notice," he adds, " the excellent and coiitimiod devotion to dutv displayed by the Chief of the General Staff and all ranks of the Defence Department—military, civil, and temporary, including such important sections as supply board of advice, transports board, base records, war accounts branch, shipping embarkation and disembarkation staffs, camp and barrack construe tion, etc., in which arc so many capable voluntary workers. The mutual harmonious co-operation existing between all sections wholly accounts for the efficient manner in which the present strenuous duties are carried out. The officers in temporary, command of the four military districts are do serving of great consideration for the manner in which thoy have administered their command. The dominion is also fortunate in having two excellent officers in command at the Trentham and Featherston. training camps, with very efficient and capable training staffs." Dealing with details of the service, the report states that discipline is improving, but much remains to be done in this direction. Particularly is this the case with saluting—that great test of discipline without the observance of which no army can be said to bo disciplined, and, therefore, efficient. There are now 246 rifle clubs in the dominion, with a strength of 7928. All the clubs, says the report, have evinced a patriotic endeavour to help the dominion, and have in many ways given expression to this desire. During the year* the general training section has been drafted into Territorial units so far as has been found possible. Experience has shown the extreme difficulty of keeping trace of men belonging to this section. On the subject of cadc-ts, the report states: "-The discipline and efficiency of the Senior Cadets have in many cases shown a groat improvement, and the interest taken in the work has been most praiseworthy. The steadiness and efficiency of many of the companies show that all ranks are aiming at a creditable standard. Thcro are at present 20 staff cadets from Now Zealand at the Royal Military College of Australia. Ten of these joined this year. The New Zealand cadets are holding their own, and have shown up verv well at the college. One staff cadet of the 1915 batch is top of his year at the college, and another is third. During the coming year it is intended to devoto particular attention to the instruction of junior officers and noncommissioned officers. This is essential if they are to give useful instruction to their men. By a careful system of elementary training it is hoped that a high standard of collective training will ultimately bo arrived at. So far as is possible it is hoped to bring officers and non-commis-sioned officers into training camps for short courses of instruction. These officers will bo selected from amongst those who are unable to offer their sci vices to the Territorial service. The war has shown the extreme desirability of sound individual efficiency and a high standard of discipline. Without botli these essentials a battalion becomes valueless in the field. All efforts will therefore be concentrated upon attaining a high standard of efficiency and discipline, for which the foundation undoubtedly exist?.

With a view to organising the Territorial nodical services on a proper basis, it \s recommended that a medical officer bo appointed on the Headquarters Staff as lirector-general, with rank of colonel, and chat a deputy director of medical services bo obtained from the-R.A.M.C, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to assist tho above and tour and lecture in camp;; also that a deputy assistant director of military services be attached to each district as sanitary officer, in order to bring the organisation into lino with tho Imperial nystem. A medical officers' training corps is being organised at the Otago University on the same footing as those in tho universities in Great Britain, to enable medical students to take their places as properlytrained medical officers when their services as such are require:!.

The strength of the New Zealand Forces on April 30 was: Territorial Force, 26.839; Senior Cadets, 27.063; General Training Section, 3137; lliflc Clubs, 7928;—total, 65,267.