MILITARY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1979, 9 February 1914, Page 5

MILITARY TRAINING.

Sir,—l note that General Godley and over 100 officers have been carrying out a staff _ tour at Cambridge, and being of an inquisitive turn of mind, I am wondering how much this is going to cost the country. I have a faint recollection of a somewhat similar tour costing an enormous amount, and somewhere about £300 went for motorcar hire.; It would Ire interesting to know how many of those officers actually engaged in the foal pertion df the training our Territorials are taking part in this ''Dominion drive.".. Personally, I have not the slightest doubt that most of those attending will bo tojuid to be imported oflkers, who are making tho most of their stay in this country, and who do not intend to give their'-services, beyond the periods of their respective agreements. There will be others in commands of various districts, - and probably some of these are nearly at the ctid of -their command. Of the younger officers, 1 daresay, there wijl be one or two, put- they will- he necessary evils.

'five point I wish to snake- is tliiss Those staff tours are all very Well and necessary, in their place, but when it is considered that a large, and a large portion of the Defence vote is being spent on items lilie the above, which, at present, seem unnecessary, very little is boing spent- on the actual needs and. necessities • for the ' groundwork „ of training of the young soldier. I' am informed that some officers can hardly Set the necessary postage stamps i'or sending out notices to their companies, and as for facilities for teaching musketry, they are quite out of the question, yet tho General can order a staff tour which will cost the country anything from £100 a day upwards, with very little, if any, beneficial Jesuits to tho country.

On roading the regulations, 1 notice that officers commanding regiments of infantry are allowed tho huge sum of 10s. per capita per annum to run their regiments, and cut of that I can imagine each company in thn regiment- receiving handsome allowances out of'the total, with a little bit thrown iii to provide for necessaries in the several orderly rooms, camp etras, etc.!

It -is v-erjr nice to have a select few well trained in higher military tactics, bat they will be -a lot of use 'with untrained men, will tlioy not? I am ail ardent- supporter of the defence. 6ch : em*. in many ways, jtnd an old soldier of many years' training, and still effteiWtl, but it is time some pointed tjuestlens were asked the General as to his administration, etc. I' hope some abler pen thaw mine will take this matter up.I am, etc., UKVEILLB. [Inquiries madft at tho Defeneo Department show that 51 officers took part in the tour', and all are-concerned in the training of Territorial, whether Imperial, Now Zealand Staff Corps,

or Territorial officers. Of tlla 51 officers only sixteen were Imperial men, and o'f these five are extending their service for a year over the period they were engaged for, a«4 five have only just arrived in the country. No officers commanding districts are near'the oiid of thnir tonn, and district commanders are all New Zealand men, 'Die hcucficinl results of a staff to nr., propoily carried out, are Verj great, in, the. opinion of those, who are in a position to judge. It is pointed out tliat the maintenance grant for writs is Ifls. pwp heixl in the infantry, and £1 in the mounted ranks. For example, Sin infantry regiment of 1000 men would claim £500 per annum, which is held to bo no small sum, when evoiytlring ■thought Accessary is provider ill addition.]