H.—l9.

Guards on Vital Points. In accordance with war plans, all guards on vital points were provided by Army personnel. These points included Army, Navy, and Air Force establishments, civilian explosives magazines, bulk oil installations, and important cable and wireless stations and vital points connected with the railway system. The actual points guarded, as well as the scale on which guards should be maintained, are under constant review by the appropriate committee of the Organization for National Security. The personnel required from the Army for coast-watching stations, and guards for vital points, are found from the National Military Reserve, Class 11, and, if for no other reason, the formation of this reserve prior to the outbreak of war was fully justified. These men have carried out a monotonous and, in many cases, a lonely task with commendable application. RAISING AND TRAINING SECOND NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. General. Within a few days of the outbreak of war the Government decided to raise a special force for service within or outside New Zealand, as circumstances might dictate. The first echelon of this force entered camp at the beginning of November, after one month's prior training of the officers and N.C.O.s concerned. It consisted of approximately one-third of a division at British war establishments, with the addition of certain non-divisional troops, notably a machine-gun battalion and the bulk of a Reserve M.T. Company. When this echelon entered camp it was not definitely known whether it would proceed overseas. It was therefore decided that training should be pushed on as rapidly as possible in order that the force might be in the best shape in the shortest possible time for employment as circumstances might dictate. As soon as it was definitely known that the force was to proceed overseas the syllabus of training was reconsidered, and on assurance being given that all troops on arrival overseas would be granted an opportunity of carrying out further training before being employed in active operations it was decided that the training in New Zealand should aim at the following objects :— (a) To produce soldiers confident in their individual weapons and capable of taking part in further individual and collective training ; (b) To afford specialists a grounding in their specialist subjects so that they would be capable of taking advantage of more advanced training. The training of subsequent drafts was therefore based on that carried out by units of the militia in the United Kingdom during their corresponding period of preliminary training, but, taking into account the ability of the young New-Zealander to absorb instruction easily, somewhat faster progress than that anticipated in the United Kingdom was allowed for. All units of the Expeditionary Force are at their war establishments, with a reserve in all units. Plans are in existence for the maintenance of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at its war establishments by the periodical despatch of reinforcement drafts as required. The total number trained, or under training, for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is approximately 20,000 all ranks. Recruiting and Enlistment, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The registrations for service overseas reached 38,400 on the 25th May. Recent events have had a decided stimulus, resulting in a substantial increase in enlistments. In addition, 3,235 Maoris have registered for service overseas ; this gives a total of 41,635 registrations for the Dominion. Recruiting for the Fourth Reinforcements is now proceeding rapidly, and it is confidently anticipated that the number required will be enlisted, medically examined, and passed as fit during the next few weeks. In addition to the above 'effort, a total of 4,443 all ranks are engaged with the Regular Forces, also in Home Defence units, temporary instructional and administrative staffs, and general military duties in New Zealand. There are also 763 civilians employed on various duties in the Army Department. Officers and N.C.O.s Training. Owing to the necessity of the rapid concentration of the First Echelon, its officers and N.C.O.s received only one month's prior training. It was, however, possible with the Second and Third Echelons to grant the officers and N.C.O.s at least two months' prior training. In future N.C.O.s will receive three months', and officers and those selected to be granted commissions five months', preliminary training. This latter course is dictated by the fact that most of the officers of the Territorial Force who are eligible as regards age and medical fitness have already joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, with the result that officers for future drafts will be composed very largely of newly-commissioned officers. These officers will, however, be reinforcements for formed units overseas, and their comparative inexperience will not be a disability.

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