N.Z. TERRITORIALS.

Southland Times, Issue 14370, 17 March 1910, Page 5

N.Z. TERRITORIALS.

THE NEW DEFENCE SYSTEM

AN INTERESTING REVIEW.

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON. March 16.

Defence matters in the Dominion are just now in a complete transition stage. The volunteers ceased to be and were instantaneously restarted 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 developments : but it is clear from what has been done so far that th£ territorials, otherwise* volunteers, have an immensely improved status. 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 has 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 stil! attached to the company can remain under trie new and improved conditions and - need not retire until the usual retiring age of fifty is reached. Each regiment- of the territorial forces will have attached to it a permanent instructor.

It is to the non-volunteer that the next Defence Act will come as a call for self sacrifice. Efficient volunteers are to be exempt from the compulsory training : but the young man who has not gone in for volunteering will now be obliged to do a certain minimum amount of military training. To make the position clear a schoolboy may be traced through the various stages of his development. In the primary school between the ages of 12 and 14 he will be attached to the junior cadets ; from 1-1 to 18 his place will be in the senior cadets ; if he 'leaves school it makes no difference to his liability, he can still be attached to the local cadet corps. Upon attaining the age of 18 the youth will be faced with an Important problem which he will be free to solve as suits his sense of patriotism or his disinclination to share the burden as well as the privileges of citizenship. These are the .three alternatives, one of which must be selected : (1) Refuse military duty and suffer the penalties Imposed by a court of law' ; (2) join the Territorials (otherwise the volunteers under a new name) alfd train with them for three years in his own locality; (3) await the summons to the general training camp and put In fourteen days annually under military instructors and camp discipline and twelve and a half days at the nearest territorial centre. As there is no way of honourably avoiding training it is probable that a large proportion, of young men will select their local territorial force as the training medium ; but the alternative, the camp, will be attractive enough to the average healthy individual, and his experience of it will make him better fitted for his civil as well as military obligations. ' The camp work will be under the instruction of members of the permanent force and will probably take lines similar to the present company drill. The “ raw material ” will learn how to take sentry and outpost duty, to reconnoitre, to do efficient work with the rifle in the trenches, and also to handle the shovel .to make the trenches. The ordinary attack and defence movements, including skirmishing,i will be provided and the budding soldier will be taught to look after himself, both in regard to hygiene and the proper utilisation of rations. No social position can be re-', spected ; all are liable for service and there will be the same opportunity for everyone with a liking for military pursuits to continue them and secure promotion by merit and merit only. There are 21,550 volunteers or territorials in the Dominion ; but military experts are of opinion that 30,000 highly trained men should be available if, New Zealand is to defend itself effectively, and the whole of this big force can be obtained by training the physically fit males between fim ages of 17 and 21. To equip the increased number more arm,s will' 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 calling 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 bo requited to put in time ai the training camp, it is anticipated that a great impetus >vill be given to the volunteer side of the defence movement. One of the chief difficulties in carrying out the general scheme is the liability to cause dislocation or at any rate serious inconvenience in- some brandies of industry ; but'to avoid this the general training period will be spread over five or six months of the year, and batdies 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 at about the beginning of next year.