246
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 6

273. The inspection in (1) and (3), para. 272, will include the following subjects, so far as applicable to the branch of the service to which the unit belongs: Drill, fire discipline, physical training, bayonet fighting, sword exercise, revolver practice, machine-gun drill and practice, signalling, range-finding, musketry efficiency, field firing, judging distance, or other musketry practice, field manoeuvres, and the subjects prescribed for the annual course of training.

274. The inspection of a company, &c., in the above subjects will be directed towards testing the capacity of the individual officers, section leaders, and N.C.O.s generally to act as instructors and leaders, as well as the efficiency and readiness for war attained by the rank and file of their respective commands.

275. The inspection in (1) and (2) for all arms will be carried out by the officer exercising the powers of not less than a Brigade Commander, under whom the unit is placed for purposes of command in peace.

276. The inspection in (3) will be carried out as follows:—
     N.Z. Field Artillery: Under arrangements to be made by the Director of Ordnance at Headquarters.
     N.Z. Engineers: Under arrangements to be made by the Director of Ordnance at Headquarters.
     N.Z. Army Service Corps: Under arrangements to be made by the Quartermaster-General at Headquarters.
     N.Z. Medical Corps: By the P.M.O. District.
     In all other cases: By the officer exercising the powers of not less than a Brigade Commander, under whom the unit is placed for purposes of command in peace.

277. Annual confidential reports on units will be rendered on N.Z. Form E 5.

278. An inspecting officer will record an opinion on the efficiency of the officers of a unit as a whole, on that of the men and horses, the handling of troops, the system of training, the suitability and completeness of equipment, the mobilization arrangements, and, generally, all that affects the readiness of the unit for war. He will take notice of and encourage suggestions for improvement of training, equipment, and efficiency, and will bring to notice any that may be considered worthy of the attention of the officer to whom he renders his report.

279. The reports on units mentioned in paragraph 277 will be rendered by the inspecting officer, in duplicate, through the usual military channel, to the O.C. District, who will state on the same document, and in continuation of the inspecting officer’s report, whether he concurs therein; and will, within two months of the inspection of the unit, forward one copy of each brigade report, and one copy of the report on each unit comprising the brigade, with his own remarks thereon, to Headquarters, for the information of the G.O.C.

280. The inspecting officer, when submitting his annual confidential report, will examine the ages of all officers given in N.Z. Form E 5, and satisfy himself that no officer who has exceeded the age-limit is serving.

MUSKETRY.

281. Musketry training will be carried out in accordance with the principles laid down in Musketry Regulations. Every officer of and below the rank of Captain, and every member of the Territorial Force and Senior Cadets, will be exercised each year in the course prescribed in the N.Z. Musketry Instructions for the arm of the service to which he belongs, and his classification (except in the case of officers) entered in his Record books.

282. The following may be excused musketry: Bandmasters, regimental staff sergeants, and cooks.

283. The musketry course will not be fired during the annual training in camp.

284. O.C. units will be held entirely responsible for the Musketry returns of their units.

285. Company, &c., Commanders are responsible for the musketry training of their men.

286. Practice in judging distance will form part of all musketry parades.

287. During the annual camp, judging-distance parades will be held with a view to awarding the regulation badges to companies.

288. Brigade and Coast Defence Commanders will arrange for superintendence of the firing of the standard tests, both at the firing-points and at the butts, by officers of other units than the unit which is firing. Officers above the rank of Major will not be employed on this duty, and a Major will only be employed on ranges where more than sixteen targets are in use. The Adjutant of the unit which is firing may act as one of the superintending officers either at the firing-point or the butts, in special cases where there is a difficulty in obtaining the services of other officers.

Should it be found impossible to arrange for independent supervision, as described above, a note to that effect will be made in the regimental or Area Group annual musketry return, N.Z. Form B 94. It is desirable that the marking should be performed by men of other units.

AMMUNITION.

289. A soldier of the Territorial Force is strictly forbidden (a) to carry any rounds of ball ammunition to a place of parade or instruction, and (b) to take any Government ammunition (whether obtained on payment or not) away from a rifle range or place of instruction. An order to this effect will be published annually in regimental or battalion orders at the commencement of the training season.

290. Whenever possible, ammunition for musketry practice, private practice, or competition will be issued only on the range. If no magazine exists on a range, then the ammunition must be conveyed thither in bulk under regimental arrangements.

291. Before blank or dummy ammunition is delivered to the men, an officer will ascertain that no ball ammunition remains in the pouches, pockets, bandoliers, or magazines. The men will be reminded that they are not allowed to have any ball ammunition in their possession.

292. Whenever ammunition is issued from or returned to store for or by the troops at the issuing-station, an officer or member of the Permanent Staff of the unit will attend.

293. The issue of ammunition from the regimental magazine or ammunition-store will, whenever possible, be made by an officer (who will keep the key of the magazine or store in his possession), or, in his absence, by a member of the Permanent Staff, who may be specially permitted to use the key for the purpose.

294. All ammunition for the use of a squadron, battery, or company, when paraded as such, will, before distribution to the men, be inspected by the Company, &c., Commander, who will satisfy himself that the description and quantity of ammunition drawn is correct, and who will be personally responsible (a) that such ammunition is properly used and expended, (b) that all unexpended rounds are collected from the men at the termination of the parade, and (c) that the whole of such unexpended balance is checked as correct and duly returned to the magazine.

295. On all occasions of field practices, classification or instructional firing, or competitions, an officer or N.C.O. of the Permanent Staff, or other N.C.O., is to be specially detailed to compare the number of rounds unexpended at the conclusion of the firing with the registers. Registers will always be kept in such a way as to facilitate this check. The officer or N.C.O. detailed will be responsible for returning the unexpended rounds to the magazine.

296. All ammunition in regimental charge is to be inspected at least once a month by the C.O., or an officer deputed by him, who will see that it is deposited in a place of safety.

297. As damage may be done to rifles by the use of unsuitable ammunition, the use of any ammunition, whether ball, blank, or dummy, except that provided by Government, is forbidden.

298. When ammunition is found to be defective, the date of manufacture marked on the box is to be noted. The O.C. the unit will render a report, through the usual channel, to the O.C. District, who will arrange to have the rounds complained of, with their wrappers or card boxes, and further samples from the same box, and the arms with which failure occurred, examined locally if possible. The O.C. District will, if necessary, forward the above, with precis of information, direct to the Director of Ordnance, Headquarters. The arms are to be kept available for special inspection if ordered.

TRAINING IN SPECIAL DUTIES.

Machine-gun Sections.

299. Machine-gun sections will be trained in each regiment of Mounted Rifles and battalion of Infantry. The strength of the section will be as laid down in “Establishments for the N.Z. Military Forces.” Spare numbers should, when possible, be trained. The instruction and training will be carried out in accordance with the Musketry Regulations, and will be as laid down in the N.Z. Musketry Instructions.

Scouts.

300. In each Mounted Rifle regiment and Infantry battalion courses of instruction for the training of scouts should be held. The numbers to be trained, the system of training, and the number of badges awarded will be in accordance with the instructions contained in the Training Manuals.

Sanitation and Police.

301. O.sC. units will be responsible that a sufficient number of men are specially trained in sanitary and police duties to insure good order and cleanliness when the unit is in camp.

Signallers.

302. The system laid down in the Training Manual, “Signalling,” is to be adhered to.

303. The instruction of signallers will be carried out in each unit by the Adjutant or other qualified officer.

304. Signallers of each unit will be inspected annually under arrangements made by the O.C. District. When possible, the officer in command of the Divisional Signal Company will be detailed as inspecting officer.

305. The establishment of signallers will be as laid down in Territorial Force Establishments.