CAMBERLEY STAFF COLLEGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1221, 1 September 1911, Page 4

CAMBERLEY STAFF COLLEGE.

DOMINIONS WILL SHAKE COST. One of tho topics discussed by tho Subcommittee of Defence at the Imperial Conference in Loudon recently, and which, it is understood, will form the subject of an.announcement by the Prime Minister in his Budget Speech this session, is tho contribution which the Dominion will bo asked to pay towards' tho upkeep of the StaiY College at Camberley; Lngland, in future. A new scheme for tho education of staff officers, froiu tho various oversea dominions wis discussed by tho delegates, and agreed to, but is subject to ratification by tlio respective Governments. With the development of _ the Imperial General Staff in Great Britain, it has been found that tho requirements of the Imperial forces will absorb practically all the accommodation at Camberley, and with the gTowth of the oversea general staffs, more staff officers will be required to bo sent to tho colleges. The War Office has offered to increase tho accommodation at Camberley, but has asked the Dominions to bear a share of the cost of maintenance, though not of construction, in proportion, to tho number of officers they send. Tlio new scheme will open up tho questibn of maintaining tho establishment of tho New Zealand General Staff at its requisite strength. The men wo will have to send to the staff colleges are naturally our most brilliant young officers. Tlio course lasts for two years, aud another year of regimental training there is recommended. Tho War Office is willing to send officers out to do tlia work, but tho Dominion would bo faced with the cost of paying the salaries of those wo send to the colleges and thoso sent here. The War Office is distinctly unfavourable to the exchange of senior officers, except in connection with tho Imperial General Staff. Their experience of oversea officers has boon that in tho past, as a general rule, officers sent across have been too senior, and they recommend thut officers bo sent across as early in their career as possible.

The question of the use of tlio Inspcc-tor-General of tlio Oversea Forccs was also discussed, a,ml Hid War Office announced fairly liberal terms upon wliich his services could be obtained. It is not expected, however, that such a visit will bo arranged for until the uew army lias fairly settled down as a going concern.