THE TERRITORIALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 137, 2 August 1911, Page 8

THE TERRITORIALS.

me:ihoi>s of training. DIRECTOR OF STAFF DUTIES EXI'LAINS. Following tire extracts from a “Memo: andum on Training i rccntly issued by Colonel F. S. Hoard, 1.G.8., .Director of Stall Duties and Military ‘Training : Introductory. Now that the organisation of tho New Zealand Military Forces under the Defence Act is an accomplished iact, it remains to consider how the training of the forces can ba carried out. to is not intended in this memorandum to lay down any detailed syllabus of training—those can bo seen in the Imperial training-manuals—-but it is intended here to put forward general principles as a guide in assisting district commanders to evolve a syllabus, and commanders of units in earning it through. ■ Our regulations lay down the broad principle that ail training should he progressive, leading up to and culminating in the annual camp of seven days" continuous training. If ofliciency is to be hoped for, tins broad principle must bo sloadlastiy kept in view by ail concerned in the training of tiic forces, i no oihcioucy cf an army lias its foundations on Ino bed-rock of elementary training, otherwise the instruction is not progressive, the ultimate results are disappointing, and may in time cf stress hung a bone a disaster more farreaching in its effects than may lie anticipated in times of peace. * *,Vc have to keep this all-important fact in view—that the underlying intention ol the peace training of an army is the ultima to object, it tiio necessity arises, cf bringing it into the held in such a state or efficiency, in organisation, training, etc., as may lead to the certain. dope tnat its operation wiii be success!idly carried eat and its victory ever an enemy ensured. This is perhaps a well-worn platitude, but, unfoi innately, it is too often lost sight cf, and therefore can bear repetition. Of this fact there can be no doubt—that where a country contemplates hostile operations against another, the former will think 'twice hhfore embarking on them if the latter is in a high state of efficiency as regards the personnel and materiel composing its j or cos.

fn considering tiia question of the training and organisation of the New Zealand Forces we must remember that any probable enemy with who up, the Empire may be at grips will lie one that has at his command troops of the highest efficiency in every respect, and to meet such troops wo must ho lully prepared. Leaving the question of the navy on one side, wo may say that a part ol national insurance is an efficient army. A part of the premium to bo paid for national insurance is a measure of self-sacrifice, and it is this measure of self-sacrifice that the citizens of this Dominion are called on to pay in carrying the training of their forces to a successful issue. To mention another platitude, also much lost sight of, it may he recalled that the essence of patriotism is self-sac-rifice, an enduring example of which was evident among the Japanese in their late war with the Russians. Granting the truth of these, premises (and to all. those who have given serious consideration to this subject the truth is beyond question), it is obvious that, with the limited amount of training to be carried out every year, hating regard to tho very easy minimum laid down in tho Regulations, all ranks will have to work hard to attain the end in view. In this connection it may be of interest to compare tho conditions of sendee in the defensive forces of Switzerland, tho citizens of which- State are a democratic and practical people. In Switzerland tho service is universal, and the citizen trains from the age of twenty to that of thirty-two in the first line, which is tho only one wo need consider here, in the first year the recruit comes tip to- continuous training during a period of from sixty-seven to ninety-two days, according co the arm of the service to v, hicli iia belongs, and works for cig.tifc hours and a iialf a day. In tho years following no does from thirteen to seventeen days’ training. )j>t one does no thoar tnat it interferes with his calling or trade, and it is admitted that the Swiss are a prosperous people.) Officers, N.C.O.’s, and men must now understand that the task they are about to undertake is serious, and one worthy of their best endeavours. If it is tiio ambition of all to reach a state of high efficiency, their work of necessity must be strenuous. Responsibilities. The chain of responsibility for tho training of tiio forces runs link by r link from the highest to the lowest. Thus, tho commanding oiiicor of a battalion is responsible for the efficient training cr his unit, and to the company commanders is delegated tho immediate duty cf training tnoir company under tuo supervision of their commanding officer. Tiio company commanders in their turn are assisted l>y their subaltern officers and the N.C.O.’s of the company. It has been 1 1 often tho case in the past that the training of the rank and file of tho company lias been left to tho ser-geant-instructor, and tho officer has been satisfied to relegate himself to tiio position of a mere looker-on. This reprehensible custom is to be very strongly deprecated. Whore this system has obtained,■ it will always bio' found that the officer has lost the habit of command, if ho ever had any, and, with that, the confidence and respect of the mon lie is supposed and intended to command. It must ho very clearly understood that in the future tho company commander is responsible for the training of his company, and that ho and his, subaltern

officers and X.C.O.’s must take a pc>rsonal and active part in bringing his company to a. state of efficiency and readiness to take the field when called upon. It will be by the efficiency of his company in all respects, and the ability of his subaltern officers and N.C.O.’s as instructors, that ho and they will bo judged. The company commander is only horev taken an an example, bnt those remarks will apply equally to any other commander in a similar position, such as a battery, squadron commander, etc. The duty of. the sergeant-major or sergeant-in-structor is merely one of an assistant, and ho may ho used to asssit in the instruction of recruits, or first-year men, and such officers or X.C.O.’s as may require improvement and instruction in training. The Tratosr. Where the subject of training is concorned, the question of the trainer is always a matte: of importance. I'llll ciont training is due to tiro effects of an officiant trainer: that is, a postulate that needs no argument. The trainer in judged by his results, which are obtained by. and are in proportion to bis knowledge and methods of t'rocedr.ie. It must bo obvious, and it cannot bo denied, that the trainer must have n thorough "rasp of iris business, or his efforts will ho so much time wanted. It is also obvious that hi: methods find manner of training must he sound. Without there two qualifications lie is only a trainer in

name. Since tho officers and A.C.O.’s of tho New Zealand Militaiy Forces, in this connection, arc trainers, it stands to reason that they must, among oilier things, have tnese two necessary and impoitant qualifications of a trainer in fact as well as in name. The attainment of these qualifications i.i nob an easy matter, nor one to he acquired without much hard study and practical application. Those officers and N.C.O.’s who attended tho rain-ing-camp lately held near Featherston will apprebiato these difficulties, and a very great deal of strenuous and continuous work was accomplished before they succeeded in becoming the body of efficient trainers they are. All of which goes to show that if officers and N.C.O.’s of the Territorial Force intend to take their position seriously, they have a period of hard work before them to render themselves fit to he trainers in every sense of tho word. The training manuals will have to he studied and applied intelligently, and their knowledge of drill must be perfect and thorough. (To be continued.)