THE TERRITORIAL FORCE

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14029, 4 April 1919, Page 5

THE TERRITORIAL FORCE

RECONSTITUTION IN ENGLAND.

TRIBUTE TO FINE WAR SERVICE

(Australian, N.Z. and Reuter.) Received April 3, 10.40 p.m. LONDON, April 2

A conference was held at Westminster between Mr Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for War, and representatives of the Territorial Force Associations. Mr,,Churchill, who presided, outlined a scheme to reconstitute the force as an. essential and vital part of the defensive, system by re-creating the pre T war territorial units subject to such modifications' as the progress ;of modern weapons may render necessary. The territorial force, officers should be eligible to command its brigades and fill positions on the divisional and brigade staffs.

Mr Churchill emphasised that war record should be made 80 per cent, of the qualifications of every man chosen to command a territorial ' unit. Mr Churchill hinted at the utilisation of the present volunteer force for the purpose of reconstructing the pre-war national reserve, and concluded by paying a warm tribute to the territorials, who had acquitted themselves in a manner that had won the wholehearted acceptance of their regular comrades and of the finest soldiers who had come to our assistance from the dominions overseas.