ANOTHER PERIOD OF TRAINING

Southland Times, Issue 24361, 15 February 1941, Page 8

ANOTHER PERIOD OF TRAINING

FIELD EXERCISES FOR TERRITORIALS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 14. Further steps in bringing the Territorial Force to a high state of efficiency had been decided upon by the Government, said the Minister of Defence, the [ Hon. F. Jones, in a statement tonight. | “Considerable progress has already | been made in this respect,” said Mr Jones. “Larger portions of the field force completed their three months’ training towards the end of December, concluding with brigade manoeuvres extending over a week, and in circumstances approximating as nearly as possible to active service conditions. The units concerned had reached a standard of efficiency which was highly satisfactory. Units which did not carry out their three months’ training in the period from October to December are now either in camp or about to enter | camp in the next two or three weeks, i Formations composed of these units will carry out field exercises of about 10 days’ duration during the latter part of March. These exercises will be carried out separately in three military districts. The total number involved will be approximately 12,000 men of all ranks. The Government has now decided to carry out in each district a further period of exercises extending over 14 days between April ; 7 and June 10. The troops involved | in each district will number slightly over 4000, and will comprise units who carried out their original three months’ i intensive training in October to December 1940.

“I feel sure that on the completion of this training all concerned will have reached a state of efficiency which would enable the territorial force, if the necessity arose, to go to war as a fighting machine, and give an excellent account of itself.

“With the operation of the ballot for overseas service a proportion of the territorial force will be withdrawn for service overseas. The effect that this will have on the Territorial Force has been foreseen and the necessary troops to keep the territorial units up to war establishment will be forthcoming as a result of the programme of training reinforcements for these units progressively for three months throughout the year.”