AUSTRALIA'S MILITIA

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 74, 6 March 1931, Page 7

AUSTRALIA'S MILITIA

VOLUNTARY SCHEME FAILS. LOW CAMP ATTENDANCES. It cannot be said that the hope of the Labour Government in Australia that a voluntary militia would fill the place of a compulsory military force has been fulfilled (writes a Sydney correspondent). The muster at the first ieamps held since the abolition of tfceieompulsory training system has been very disappointing and the staffs and officers have been greatly disappointed. Just what the politicians think is not known, for they have been silent / The attendance at home training parades has been just as disappointing and unless it improves it may be necjessary to abolish the military strength of the various units is quite satisfactory, but the attendance at camps and parades is usually about 0 per eent. The position obtaining in Australia provides an interesting subject for New Zealanders iri view of the present system of defence Operating. Divisional officers say they believe that the economic position is partly responsible for the small attendances

at the camps. The depression is blamed- for most things these days. However, militia officers report that most of the men who were asked to

attend the camps said they were dubious abOTxt applying for. leave, as they feared that they would not find their * jobs waiting for them when they returned. :•; > C Some extraordinary situations were revealed when battalions were organised at Melbourne camps. One battalion marched in 150 strong, but could muster only seven rifle and Lewis gun men after the requirements of the vital specialist units, such as machine gunners, signallers and other details; cocks, orderlies and fatigue men, had been filled. The wbole organisation was built up round those seven men who comprised the actual fighting trpops of the unit. An-

other battalion, when organised on a company basis, .Could find only 14 men, whereas normally the company comprises 150 men. A third battalion marched In with the full strength of one company, consisting of five officers, one warrant officer, three sergeants, 10 corporals and three privates—six leaders to every ranker. To meet the changed conditions in the camp the whole system of training was altered. The object now is to turn out at the end of the camp a nucleus of highly and intensively trained officers, non-com-missioned officers and specialists, and a handful of privates, who will be qualified as lance-corporals or senior privates** All surplus officers and N.C.O.'s were brigaded. It is not thought that the scheme will achieve much, for very soon there will be ,no men to train anywhere in Australia. •Soldiering is not popular in the Commonwealth.. <