UNIVERSAL TRAINING

Southland Times, Issue 16888, 13 November 1911, Page 5

UNIVERSAL TRAINING

COMMENCES TO-DAY. After,- many months of ' vexatious delays, in which the officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps were hampered by the want of Moca! knowledge and facilities, t.h,e mandate concerning universal training is beginning to assume a material aspect. The posting to the various units of the forces has been completed, and in Invercargill, the "call-to-arms” by the "Territorial officers has been made. This evening the first draft will parade, these being the members of the Invercargill City Guards or to give the company its official designation, “A’’ Company, Bth Regiment, Southland Rifles. This, Company is,under the command of ‘ Lieutenant Kelly,' who. wlll conduct the “sWearing-ln” at -to-night’s parade. To-imorrow the “C” Battery will receive their complement to bring the corps up to its strength; Captain Uennie's command have been working at a disadvantage in the past owing to the lack of numbers; the completion of the posting should materially assist the corps to thoroughly organise. On Friday the Awarua Rifles (Invercargill section), under Captain O’Toole, and the Invercargill half-company', of the Bluff Coastguards, under Lieutenant Cushen, will assemble for the first time. In addition- - to these units there is a machine-gun section, the members of which, for drill purposes have been distributed among the infantry division of the forces,, service is a subject that has been discussed, attacked, and received praises and condemnation without and with prejudice. It Is interesting to note that in the War Office Itself in London, there is a strong fooling that the time is opportune for a revision of the 1 official plans dealing with universal service. The employment of the greater portion of the regular troops destined for service in the Expeditionary Force to deal with the recent labour troubles in the Old Country revealed a weakness in our preparation for sudden war. In France, on the other hand, an example of unanimity in tho Franco-German crisis, afforded such a striking contrast, that immediate action is urged. The Conseils Generaux, representing ninety departments or counties of France, rose superior to all such things as Socialism. ar.ti-Militarism, etc., by passing resolutions in favour of united national defence at all costs. It is now nearly four years since the booming of the Home Territorial Forces filled its ranks, and soon tho heads will have to consider the exodus of time-expired men. A serious gap will be left in tbe ranks and keen men cannot be expected to continue in tlie service indefinitely. "There is,” writes a well-informed critic, "no other system to replace the Territorial Force with equally good results, except universal service; obligatory service cannot bo kept in tho background much longer. The Government lias received a salutary lesson as a result of the labour strikes. The question of our national defence requires grave consideration and party squabbles, fads and faddists should be put aside and tbe vital question of defence effectively dealt with.’’