IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 855, 29 June 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

OVERSEAS INSPECTION. MR. HALDANE EXPLAINS THE NEW POLICY-CO-ORDINATION OF STRATEGY. Hy Telegraph—Preps Association—Copyright, i (Rrc. Juno 28, 9.30 p.m.) London, June 28. ' In the [iouso of Commons discussion on the Army Estimates, Mr. George 1 Wyndham, who was llnder-Socretary for S War in the last Salisbury Administra--1 tion, said that tho .Mediterranean command might bring a prominent soldier into delicato relations with the British represcntativo in Egypt, and with the reprcseulativo of the self-governing Dominions. Jlr. Holdane. Secretary of State for War, declared that the representatives of the Dominions at the Defence Conference, held in August, last, agreed to endeavour to fashion the armies of the Empire upon a singlo pattern. An Inspector-General for tho overseas 1 forces, continued Mr. llaldane, was now 1 required. General Sir John French, as r Inspector-General of the- Home and ovorB sen forces, was much over-worked. J General Sir lan Hamilton, who had been appointed to tho Mediterranean 0 command, was not only a soldier of great 1 distinction, but ho had commanded Cane adiaus, Australians, and New Zealan' , . troops in tho iield. In the event of war Sir lan Hamilton would be empowered to co-ordinate tho i strategy to be adopted along the great e military highway through the Mcditere ranean, joining East and West. !- Hence, added Mr. Haldano, Malta '• would be the General's headquarters for * but two or three months annually. Dury ing tho rest of the year ho would sit on the Imperial Defence Committee in London. 'The salary attached to the position would bo .£SOOO per annum. COMPULSORY TRAINING. MR. HALDANE ON INVASION QUESTION. ■I THE lIORSIS SHORTAGE, "g (Rec June 28, 10.40 p.m.) s London, Juno 28. Continuing his speech, Jlv. Ilaldano said the desire for the compulsory training of a British second lino was based on a strategical misconception. It was impossible for more than seventy thousand men to evado tho fleet, and there were six hundred thousand to opposo them. If a British expeditionary force of 100,000 men were away, 1100,000 men would L still be loft to defend Great Britain. Ho estimated that 500,000 horses, out of the total of 1,(100,000 in Groat , Britain, v were useful for army work. Half a mila lion horses would be sufficient for mobilie sation and wastage. Mr. Haldanc 'added that Lord Carririgo ton, President of the Bonrd of Agricul- •. tnre, was formulating a scheme whereby r_ three-year-old horses, broil from regisI' torn! mares and stallions, could be pur- ('. chased from farmers at .CIO apiece. „ Jlr. Arthur Lee, Unionist member for Fareham, declared that the Govorniuqnt had made out a good case for the appointment of an Inspector-General of tho overseas forces. But it .was impossible, he contended, to combine it with the .Mediterranean command. The inspecting duties would require thd officer's whole time.