KITCHENER'S MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 757, 4 March 1910, Page 5

KITCHENER'S MISSION.

ITS SCOPE. HIS REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. "WELL WITHIN THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE DOMINION." (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, March 3. Sir Joseph Ward, who lias accompanied Lord Kitchener throughout hv< tour, gavo a reporter some impressions ot the event this afternoon. He paid a high tribute to the manner in which the transport of troops and cadets from the out-districts to the four centres had been accomplished by the- Railway Department, and pointed out how the Main Trunk railways were proving their usefulness in this respect. The fact that in round numbers 13,000 cadets and some 8000 adult volunteers had been assembled at the four centres without a hitch marked distinct advance so far as the transport facilities of the Dominion were concerned.

"One point we should remember in connection with the visit of Lord Kitchener," said Sir Joseph, "is that he did not come either to New Zealand or Australia to inspect, in the ordinary sense of the word, the volunteers or the cadets, and for that reason he has not publicly expressed any opinion as to the efficiency" of the men nor the correctness or otherwise of any manoeuvres that have been earned out during his visit.. His. mission to New. Zealand was to suggest what was the best system to adopt for the defence of the Dominion, and in this category I include the permanent defence of harbours that require it. It is, therefore, to his report and recommendations that we must look in order to lay down a proper and effective scheme. "I feel personally that the result of his, visit will materially add to the value of the defence system of tho Dominion. I cannot discuss . the recommendations ho has made in the report which was handed to me last night from Lord Kitchener, except to say that they are on lines that are well within the possibilities of the Dominion to carry out. After they have been considered by the Government, they will be published, so as to give members of Parliament and the public generally a full opportunity of becoming acquainted with them before the next session cf 1 Parliament."

Asked as to the effect of the report en the new Defence Act, Sir Joseph said ho had no doubt that .legislation would bo desirable to include the scheme proposed by Lord Kitchener in.his report. HARBOUR FORTS. LORD KITCHENER'S SUGGESTIONS. CANDID CRITICISM. (By TelecraDh.—Press Association.) '.Auckland, March 3.' Lord Kitchener, during his visit to Auckland paid special attention to the defences of the Waitemata Harbour in view of the fact that in the immediate future the harbour is to be a base for the British Navy'in the Southern Pacific. As, the result of his observations it is,understood that in his report'to the Defence Minister he has made recommendations which, if carried out: in their entirety, will -place the - Auckland fortifications upon.the same.scab..as those of Sydney. It is . well known that the fortifications of the port of Auckland are at present quite inadequate. The whole of tho armament, with the exception of the two now 6-inch Mark .VIII guns now being mounted, consist of guns of such an obsolete description that they could not. penetrate the armour of a modorn armoured cruiser at even half the range they are said to possess.- During his inspection of the forts,. Lord Kitchener did not even glance at these guns. Ho concentrated his attention* during the visit upon the strategetical positions of the fortress, and immediately seized upon the importance of,' Burton's Point, declaring that was tho. place which must be fortified. The Field-Marshal's first impression as regards the importance of this position seems to have become a conviction, as it is stated that he has made strong recommendation in his report for the fortification of this point., While Burton's .Point appealed to him as of extreme importance for the protection of the entrance to the harbour, it is stated that the fortification of one particular spot now fortified did not at all meet with his approval, and that this is, made the subject of candid, criticism in the document he handed in.

A? far as the armament of the different forts are concerned, it is reported that Lord Kitchener has strongly urged that the forts here should be equipped with 9.2-inch Mark VII guns of the latest pattern. If this is so, and his recommendations are carried out, it means that Auckland, to all intents and purposes, will be safe from any raid likely to be made upon it. Tho 9.2-inch gun is, next to- the 12-inch weapon, the most powerful piece of ordinance in use in the British Navy, and it is considered by many to be more serviceable for fortification purposes than the 12-inch, inasmuch as it- does not wear out so quickly. 'It will,"-to use Lord.Kitchener's own expression, "stop any ship." Additional search-lights, it is understood, have also been recommended. > '■ ' VISIT TO ROTORUA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, March 3. Lord Kitchener left Auckland by motor at 8.30 this morning, accompanied by his sister (Mrs. Parker) and Mr. Parked, presumably for Eotorua. THE PATHFINDERS. • AN UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE. . (By Tekeraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, March.3. Yesterday Lord Kitchener had an experience which it-is safe to say was very unusual, but which he accepted in a splendid spirit. He was proceeding to a certain mountain for the purpose of gaining a panoramic view of the manoeuvres under'the guidance of an officer, whose knowledge of the country was not so extensive as he imagined. On the way Lord Kitchener discovered that the spot he wished to attain was miles away across tho scoria country; at right angles to the route he was "beihg'falien. "After consultation, a cross road was tried, but this proved to be a ; oul-de-sac. Lord Kitchener showed no trace 'of :annoyance, but rather seemed to enjoy the unique experience. Another road-was tried, and here Colonel Tuson met with an; experience. His steed rather than pass; between scoria rocks made a stupendous. jump. Colonel Tuson managed to keep his seat, and the incident passed without anything serious happening. "Lord Kitchener continued in his attempt to get across country and made his horse tako a stone wall. He was enjoying himself now, and apparently did not want to see the panorama. His staff dismounted to cross tho wall, and Colonel Tuson, in trying to force his horso over, inadvertently caught bold of. a barb-wire fence; and' severely cut his finger, necessitating medical attention. Lord Kitchener calmly pursued his unknown way across the scoria country for some time Ho watched the manoeuvres from a rocky eminence, and wa6 much amused at the efforts of one of his selfconstituted civilian bodyguard to make his horse jump over a scoria wall 3ft high. The efforts of his staff at patlilinding seemed to amuse Lord Kitchener, but eventually a way was found through private property by a civilian scout, and Lord Kitchener was once apain baok on a hard road. Ho was greatly interested at this pomt (Barrett's Hill) by the development of an attack bv infantry who wore having great difficulty in crossing over tho broken scoria country. He laughingly remarked when inquiring the way from some civilian horsemen that ho hod a fine body of scouts. He took a stand for quito a while on Barrett's Hill, and spied out the land. Mr. Bullock Webster rode up to the party here on a fine black hunter. Lord Kitchener's eye, which misses nothing, immediatelv rested on the fine animal, and he anid genially, but in the tone of a judge "That is a fine horse you are rding' It is a pify yon do not breed more of •them and send them to India as remounts."