SOLDIERS INSPECTED

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 20, 13 September 1940, Page 3

SOLDIERS INSPECTED

\ — National Reservists And Territorials GENERAL’S PRAISE Praise for the type of soldier he had seen on his recent inspection of Territorials and National Reserve (Class II) units, at present in training in the Northern and Central Military Dis tricts, was given by Major-General Sir John Duigan, Chief of the General Staff, in an interview yesterday. “In the event of these men ever being called on to play their war role in the defence of New Zealand, I am certain they will render an excellent account of themselves. They are soldiers of whom the country can we'd be proud,” he said Sir John said that most units* we’ e well forward with their framing, ar. .1 a number of them were now enterin x on. a phase of intensive military work, during which they would carry out tactical exercises. The bearing and general turn-out of the units he had inspected during his North Island tour were of a very high standard. In Auckland, Sir John said, he sac . the No. 1 Battalion of the National • Reserve (Class II). They were ; all r - turned men who, 25 years ago, had served in Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine, and France, in every branch of the ■ service-mounted rifles, infantry, . artillery, engineers, Army Service Corps, medical units, and so on. lie was - very much impressed with the . soldierly bearing of these men who , were once more, in khaki. Their good ’ physique was striking.. The parade at Gisborne, he con-. , tinned, consisted of a company of Territorials and a company of Class II re- ■ • servists, who were drawn up facing , each other. It was a striking example ; of. the inspiration that the younger men were receiving from the Great War veterans, who had once more ■ voluntarily offered their services to their country. I In Napier Sir John inspected a ba - , tery, a company of Territorials, and a company of Class II reservists., Th ■ [ whole parade was exceedingly well turned out, and the battery, particularly, impressed him as one of the smartest units of the Territorial Forces he had yet seen. 7