THE KING'S ARMY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 416, 27 January 1909, Page 8

THE KING'S ARMY.

HALDANE'S TERRITORIALS. A NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS, AND SOME CONVICTIONS. . . . Everybody ■ has read of, or heard of, Haldane s Territorials, but there are not many in New Zealand. who,' in their travels abroad, have made it- their business to see them, and study the wpnderful organisation which • was evolved from the brain of one of lawyers in England, Mr. R. B. Haldane, ? 0W T ;P l^ t distinguished, as. the Rt. H<>n..R.-B. Haldane, British Secretary of State for JWar. The story of the passing of the; volunteer system in. Great Britain, ?ar i i evolution, of the "Territorial," alias ™ un^, rr , l6r >, alias "Terrior," alias "Last Ditcher, is already. well known.. .For Halvs. , Army, everyone, almost, predicted disaster in the beginning—but Mr. Haldane. liven in ..New Zealand, competent military critics ...forecasted,, an early demise tor scheme.; which in- many respects Iwas almost revolutionary in character. And, in the: early stages of the scheme, the partial lailuro of the enlistments almost pointed to that pessimistio conclusion. The numbers u ij s - -T?. ■ public expeetations-r-of -Mr; ilalaane.s even. Now,, people ' are to. reflect that the new organisation has, saving element of .vitality, in its constitution, and that the man behind it- all knows more about the business of running an army than was popularly suspected. . - By the lonic yesterday, there returned to the Dominion, the Hon. G. J. Smith; M-L-C.,, and family. Mr. Smith's hobby, is.- military defence; he is an ardent supporter. , of i the principles of universal. military training, as the country is no doubt aware, and while in England he was at. special[ pains, to investigate tor himselfthe truth, about the Territorials, and, speaking generally, has returned' to New Zealand very favourably impressed with „Mr. Haldane s organisation. A representative of Ihe Dominion interviewed the Hon. Mr. Smith .on' hoard theliner yesterday,> ,and gathered from' him some .very interesting impressions of, Britain's Army of Home Dei fenco, and its- creator.

. The British V/ar Minister. ..' l ]a d the, pleasare of dining with Mr. Haldane while m,London," said Mr. Smith, I'andhalso;of chatting with him at'-his office in .Whitehall.'? ■'•' : ■ ' What were your impressions of the man, Mr. Smith? ■ " - . ' : "Mr.. Haldane is a remarkable man, a ftgPP-M Personality,": replied Mr. . Smith. J?? 8 intellect' is keen and his grasp "of affairs ;is 'astounding v :For. example;: he: as : tonished me with : his intimate acquaintance of our own native land laws. .'.I made some remark about ' ho explaiced/with. a smile, that as ;a; Privy' Councillor, our Native legislation ireqyie.itly;-cii'ine .under his: notice; and he. remembered its salient features. I was also introduced, at "Whitehall, to Majo'r-foneral.J.S. Ewart, C.8., Director of '. Military Operations,. and Brigadier-Gen-eral A. : ;j. Murray,, C.V.0.,. 0.6..; D.S.O;, Director,;, of Military Training, who. very kindly;: invited mo, to. spend a week in camp ' with, the Territorials at : - Walmer. Castle, Kent,an.'.invitation which I readily acThe Territorial. "I attached myself to the staff ,of; the .Tenth' Brigade," said Mr. 'Smith'; "and spent an. enjoyable 1 week: with'-them." . ' ■ And what did you think of the Territorial? "Woll—, I liked what T saw. of him. He •is' very obedient,, amenable, to discipline, and , The Officer Commanding this particular, .brigade was a keen soldier, worked hard-himself, and got hard work out of his men. The 'reveille' was. sounded at 4 a.m., and the men were'kept hard at'vr«rk~:uhtil 1 p.m. Altogether,;'abqut six 'lours l . .'drill'.,was dqrie.'by''th'e''Tirigade 'in',tho morning. ,'ln l the afterno6n;'the menvwere at liberty, while'th'e officers met for the purpose of discussing'the morning's '.work, and a portion of'each"' afternoon was . also .devoted to lectures. :: All the same, :! believe, that the New. Zealand soldier, ■with;his .freer- initiative,: greater \'independence, Svouldvbe a. better'. ; man', in. war; although he would-be none the worse!'of being more, severely, disciplined. 'Discipline tells.-. . .. A Success? - ; ; Then you think that the Territorial Ariny is a success? ■ .' "It is certainly, a long way. better than the :old condition of-things.. The .volunteer army, was in a state of chaos. Haldane has evolved . 'from ..chaos : a \ composite army of home defence, complete in every essential of organisation required for such a purpose: Everything ii:thoroughly organised.'.' '.:. "This Territorial Army then," said, the reporter,; "is an - advance, along the line which leads' to . universal.- military ...trainingr—it';' is really educating the public in the Elementary principles of national defence?"... *-;."llr. Haldane doesn't look at it in that light," said Mr. Smith. "

"But it would not bo so difficult (o convert the. idea of universal.-military training, ir it could, be shown that the Territorial .Army, system was not irksome?" suggested', tho reporter. ; "Oh, no, I think not.' Indeed, there is no doubt.' in my mind that such. a system must come," agreed Mr. Smith. "A good deal.of. . the .initial.' lack of success in .the. enlistments, for' the,'; Territorial Army was One to public misconceptions regarding its -system and -regulation's.', , Mr. Haldano, ..roalisirig 'this, ; has.written' a book 'dealing with the organisation of, his army,; and explaining the details of its, system. This book is now in the press,, and will , shortly be published." • Mr. Smith was unable, on account ,of a family bereavement, to extend his tour .to Europe,, and-so was unable to express any opinion: regarding, the, systems of military training invogueon the Continent. ,