Steps Towards N. Guinea

Defence

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, Sept. 9.

THE newly-appointed commanding offi cer of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles Detachment, Lieut.-Colonel N. R. McLeod, flew to Port Moresby at the end of August. (Lieut.-Col. McLeod was one of the comparatively few army officers who escaped from New Britain in early 1942.) He will arrange accommodation for the unit hear Moresby and will then begin recruiting.

The detachment will be under the con trol of Major-General R. H. Nimmo of Northern Command and will be drawn from the European residents of Papua- New Guinea. Equipment is awaiting shipment in Brisbane.

Col. McLeod’s discussions with the Ad ministration on accommodation have not reached any finality. He says it may be necessary to establish his headquarters four or five miles out of town. However, this would create transport difficulties.

The Rifles will operate on the same basis as the Citizens’ Military Forces in Aus tralia. he said. As well as himself, two regular Army officers would be attached to the Rifles, also 16 other regular army instructors. Eventually, the regular officers and men would probably be with drawn. Lieut.-Col. McLeod said the Rifles will be separate from the native militia battalion. Members of the Rifles will receive part-time training whereas the natives will be full-time militia.

He was not here to organise the native militia—this would be done by Regular Army officers when they became available.

“Training periods for the Rifles will be fixed to suit residents,” said Lieut.-Col.

McLeod. “There may be classes a couple of nights a week, with occasional week end training; or training may be con fined to weekends only.”

It is hoped that units of the Rifles throughout the Territory will be able to combine in annual camps lasting about a fortnight. Age limit for the Rifles will Probably be from 18 to 35.