HOME DEFENCE FORCES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22470, 4 January 1943, Page 2

HOME DEFENCE FORCES

Prospect Of Some Reorganisation

Will Fewer Remain Mobilised ?

If the Pacific situation continues to improve the coming year holds the prospect of some reorganisation of the Army insofar as the home defence forces are concerned, says "The Dominion,” Wellington. This may possible take the form of some scheme whereby the large formations are reduced to certain percentages of war establishment with those men released from camp or called up but not yet posted to camp keeping their military efficiency or acquiring it, as the case may be, by means of regular parades on the lines of the pre-war territorial training and/or annual camps of such duration as may be considered necessary to have all the men who would be required in an emergency fit to take their places efficiently in units at short notice.

There has been official emphasis recently, accompanied by action such as the dispatch of a New Zealand ‘force to a second war theatre—the Pacific — on the offensive attitude. Assuming the desirability of fighting the enemy on the shores of other countries in preference to those of New Zealand, and that the Pacific situation continues to improve, the War Cabinet and the Chiefs of Staff may well decide that there can be some relaxation in the numerical state—but not the preparedness or efficiency—of the home defence forces. When the threat first came from Japan and in the succeeding months the.se home forces were built up, along with their stations and equipment, to a considerable size. The immediate danger removed, some scheme could no doubt be devised which would keep the various defence stations and mobile units working efficiently but with fewer personnel. More Use of Home Guard Ministerial reference has already been made to increasing use being made in 1943 of the Home Guard. Tliis may be a pointer as to the policy to be followed if things continue well for the Allied nations in the Pacific in particular and elsewhere generally. The home defence forces consist, with few exceptions, considering the numbers engaged, of men under the overseas service medical standard. It would therefore follow in the event of a reduction of the men permanently mobilised for home defence that those released would be below overseas standards. On the other hand, with expeditionary force formations in two tneatres of war to be supplied with reinforcements, it is hard to visualise for the present any substantial reduction in the numbers of men required for training to take their places alongside the New Zealanders overseas. New Zealand army action in the Pacific would increase the demand for >ucn men. Already the grade 1 men in the Army in New Zealand are attached to units and formations intended and being trained primarily for overseas service and, in thd event of an emergency in this country, to form a highlytrained, mobile fighting force able to travel fast to engage an enemy after the first blows have been taken by static or local home defence units. Whatever policy is adopted in the light of coming events, assuming these to be favourable, there is said to be no doubt that both the Army and industry would welcome a stabilising policy. The constant turnover of men in various units has been a serious handicap to the Army in New Zealand and no doubt a scheme whereby a certain well-trained cadre would remain undisturbed, with others incorporated in a Territorial reserve at call and kept up to scratch by regular part-time training, would be most favourably received. On Release From Army There are already at least thousands of men on release from the Army after having had varying periods of training, 10,000 alon ehaving been released in one three-monthly period this year when there was a demand for labour largely for farming, but also for secondary industry. If these men were left in their civil occupations but could be incorporated in an efficient scheme of part-time training, their military knowledge would be improved and their interest in the Army kept alive. In all, there are probably 20.000 to 25,000 men under the age of 35, fit to take their places in the forces, but who have been “manpowered” out either from camp or after being declared members of the Armed Forces by callup but not posted to camp.

It is recognised, of course, that a heavy responsibility rests with the Government’s service advisers and leaders in respect of any course involving a reduction of the home defence forces. If such a reduction comes to pass it will certainly not be recommended by service chiefs till the internal safety margin is assured and, in all probability. a sound scheme adopted for preserving and adding to the military knowledge of any men released from the Forces.