PEACE-TIME ARMY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19694, 28 July 1938, Page 5

PEACE-TIME ARMY

NINE THOUSAND

DOMINION TERRITORIALS

UNABLE TO EXPECT MORE

VOLUNTEER SYSTEM

VIEW OF CHIEF OF STAFF

(Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day,

"In peace time we require a force of 9000 men, of whom a large proportion should be the potential leaders," states the Chief of the General Staff, Major-Generai J. E. Duigan, in submitting the annual report on the defence forces to Parliament.

How near this ideal is being approached is shown by the figures as at May 31 last, when there were 745 officers and 6367 other ranks on the active list of the Territorial Force, a total of 7112.

Reorganisation of the defence forces is again detailed. Eighteen points are mentioned as being measures which are being taken to create more interest in the defence forces. It is stated that the vigorous publicity campaign is assisting recruiting and stimulating public interest and that the recruits coming forward are of a good type and physique.

Units constituting a mounted brigade and an infantry division have been provided fqr in the organisation and can 'be expanded to their war establishment should a national emergency necessitate this action. The staff has concentrated on the training of leaders with this objective.

"An analysis of the territorial system in England and Australia," concludes the head of the forces, "leads me to the conclusion that it would be over-optimistic to expect more than 9000 men of the right type to fill the ranks of our organisation in. peace under a system of voluntary enlistment.

AIR FORCE TRAINING

DOMINION AND ENGLAND

CANDIDATES SELECTED

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. A further selection has been made of candidates for short-service commissions in the Royal Air Force. The names of the selected candidates were announced last evening l>v the Minister of Defence, the Hj.n. F Jones.

The following 12 candidates will be reporting to tlie Auckland, Canter. bury Otago and Wellington A°ro Clubs on September 12 to commence their initial training: W. I. Av.sVry, Timaru; W. G. T. Brooks, C hristchurch: W. A. Foster, Christcnurch; J. F. Gavin, Tauranga; J. C. F. Tayter, Port Hardy; J. E. Hull, Wellington'- R. J- McCrorie, Wang in .n; H. L. Oakley, Ashburton; B. W. Peryman, Christchurch; D. L. Pritchard, New Plymouth; R. W. Roots, Wellington; and A. E. Wickham, Christchurch.

The following 18 candidates have been selected for direct entry into the Roval Air Force and are to sail from New Zealand on August £5: E. M Halse, Wellington; G. L. B. Harris. Wellington; J. E. Harris, Wellington; J. F. Hayes, Christchurch; L. R. Jacobsen, Wellington; D. S. Johnston, North Auckland; J. A. Lattimer, New Plvmouth; S. J. Lester, Nelson- A. C Mcßae, Wellington: G. L Martin. Timaru; R. J. Meek, Wellington; V. A. Pedersen, Te Fuiti, D H. Robertson, Westport; G. M. Simpson, Dunedin; D. J. Stellin. Wellington: L. E. Taylor, Christchurch: R. ,1. Vaughan. Napier: and W. KWatson, Masterton.