COMMANDERS ON HOME DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 24250, 7 October 1940, Page 4

COMMANDERS ON HOME DEFENCE

Important Changes Announced THREE DIVISIONAL LEADERS COLONEL WEIR TO BE BRIGADIER (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 6. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F« Jones, announcing important adminis* trative changes in home defence units, said that the army was being placed on a footing both in organization and training to facilitate a smooth and rapid change over should mobilization become necessary. “It will be obvious that an organization suitable for peace conditions with' a territorial force of 16,000 will not answer the demands which would be placed upon it should an army of ovet;j

40,000 be required to defend these shores,” said Mr Jones. “The Government has, therefore, decided that the commanders of the more important formations and their principal staff officers should hold their appointments in peace in order to enable them to study the various tactical and administrative problems with which they might be faced in war.” The officers concerned are:— Colonel P. H. Bell, D. 5.0., to command the Ist (Northern) Division, with headquarters at Auckland. Colonel O. H. Mead, C.8.E., D. 5.0., to command the 3rd (Southern) Division, with headquarters at Christ-* church. Colonel N. W. McD. Weir, to com-; mand the 2nd (Central) Division, with headquarters at Wellington. These officers will be granted tha temporary rank of brigadier. Colonel R. A. Row, D. 5.0., to command the Northern Field Force.

Colonel E. T. Rowllings, to command the Southern Field Force. Lieutenant-Colonel L. Potter, from General Staff Officer, Northern District, to command the Central Field Force, with temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Conway,' 0.8. E., to be Adjutant-General, with the temporary rank of colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel L. G. Goss, to be colonel, General Staff, with the temporary rank of colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Avery, C.M.G., D. 5.0., to be QuartermasterGeneral, with the temporary rank of colonel.

The appointments will take effect from October 14. The training of the commanders and staffs will be carried out progressively in each district, but

as a first step in this direction a staff course is now being held. This will be followed shortly by a course for commanders of formations and their staffs, who will have an opportunity of putting the knowledge gained into practice at a later date when their formations will be assembled for brigade training. This training will be carried out in December and March, when units comprising these brigades will be at the end of their three months’ intensive training. SIR ANDREW RUSSELL IN COMMAND ABSENCE FROM DOMINION OF SIR JOHN DUIGAN (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 5. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) announced today that during the absence from New Zealand of the Chief of the General Staff (MajorGeneral Sir John Duigan) as delegate to the Empire Economic Conference at Delhi, the New Zealand Forces will be commanded by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, who was recently appointed Inspector-General of the New Zealand Forces.