The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1914. CITIZEN SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2117, 7 April 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1914. CITIZEN SOLDIERS

Ths recent visit of SiR lan , Hamilton;, the InspcctoV'Gpji.aral of tho British Overseas Forges, to the Royal Australian Military College at putttroon, New South Wales, is an event of direct interest to New Zcatyaders, in view of the fact that this Do'minion has tho right, hy arrangement with the Commonwealth Oovernment, to send tea military students every year to Ihintroon to bo tniinod as officers for our citizen army. Tho idea is that the young men who have passed through the college will come hack to Now Zealand and gain practical experience in tho handling of men and other military duties, and after their training has been completed by teiTeshe'r courses in England, they vri]] in the course of time be fitted to occupy the senior positions on our permanent staff corps. It : , is hoped that ultimately the Very ' highest posts in our Territorial system may be lilted by young New Zcalandi'i's who. have been I rained at DunUtuni. Tliis ideal was referred to by Sir lan Hamilton , in his address. There cr» lie no cloubl, that the Dominion and l.lic Commonwealth are producing the best material for tho creation of a citizen aVniy, both as regards officers

and men. It is only'- , a : - ; .qu-estkm of tiiijo and. training ■to ■ complete the finished article:. ''NatureJclcies". not give everyone tho qualities f n'eeessary for a successful officer. : r lt is a.matter of physical fitness, temperament, character, and training.' Character must always : . be a very important factor in securing obedience and respect in a citizen army in a deihocvafcie country. The Inspcetor-Gcn-fival laid groat,; stress upon this point. "If" you boys cannot command respect," lie-said, "yem are no use as officers, , ' Tho only superiority that can be relied upon is the superiority of intellect and character. The successful officer must know his work thoroughly, and isust also understand human nature. .Capacity to command docs not merely consist in ability to give ovders. The true commander must possess the magnetism of personality and those other qualities which naturally inspire obedience and confidence. It is satisfactory to learn that Sib lan .Hamilton was favourably in> pressed both with tho work that is being done at Duntroon and the general appearance of tho cadets. "They are a fine lot physically," he said. "The march past could not have been batter. They have_ every chance to k&rn tlmiHjW'ofcssdcm thoroughly. I wish I hail such a chaneo when 1 was their age," The eollc-ge has made tin _ excellent start, and gives every promise <?f Mfiliing the highest expectations of its founders. There is every reason ta believe that the batch of forty cadets which will shortly b» turned wit as officers will be a oped it to tb« institution, and a source of strength to the Territorial systems of Australia and New Zealand. It *was, however, part of. Loud Kitchener's plan that a finishing touch shoukl be given to their training by a visit to England or India. In the cflurse of conversation with a reporter prior to his departure from: Sydnoy to Melbourne, Sir lan Hamilton said:

■ "In view of my having inspected West 1 Point, in the United State.?, Kilig&ton in 'iPnnadu. quits recently, SftfldliUfst: Rt Home, and the excellent wa.f aoacleinj' at Sofia j» Bulgaria, and <jt Dresden, the 1 thing which' sqjeeiiilly eta.iuts out sinil apneals to mo ai-ptiniroon is the ex&ttordinary spiHt of. ft'iendliiwss and fcom- ■ vaileship whieh sterns io pervade ail ro.nks freni top to bottom, whether the- offioe* or- cadets were ft'sm Great Bfitein, Australia, or New Keelaiid, This teling is shaped in fiiH teree by the civilian profi'ssOß at the eofipKe. The bays all seem plear-skinned iisut clean; fiealtliy ceffls pjexioqis fti'e flhn.ost the invariable rale. I attribute this first 'to total uteriMffliofe linul second to goml hai'd MVfc »Ht( thtra to tvhoiesome fo<\d. The bujldinga seem ndcciwvte to the needs of the college, without being too lnxiiiiovcs. The i.nstractwn seems very goost."

Before he left Sydney the Ipspectur* General of Ovqriioas J'orcos attended a record parade of youn-g Australian soldiers at Centennial Paik. It was a, most impressive gathering, fewer than 25,000 troops being reviewed iu the presence of soma CO.OQO eiUwina, The physical health, saldierly appearance-, anii splendid, behaviour of tli.e cadets delighted the onlookers, and drew from Silt lan Hamhton tho remark that the people of Australia- could rest Well satisfied with the machine they- bad gat. Ifi sjjjte of ft ten'ifie thunderstorm, duriftg which an old man struck dead "by a, thunderbolt, the young soldiers did their part niagiiifieently, and tho parade- provided a. most convincing argument in favbvir of compulsory training. Those- Wei- j li-ftgt-Q-n citizens who had the privilege of witnessing the very fine display given by ■•Dtjr own Senior Ca-dets in; Newtotni Park a few, weeks- ago. will ho able to , form gQ-mo, idea of the effect produced on the spectators by: the 25,000 voting Austral.wns who tools part in tire warch-pasb before tho liaspeqtor-Geaei'aL It was an inspiring sight The physical ad» vantages of military training were-pk-inly visible, and this, eombi-ned with (she. moral -effect of 'military , discipline, must tend to promote the , a-U-rotmcl itness of the .nation. _ The schema is AWp.ly justifying it-self from the physical and moral standpoints, quite apart from coneideva" tjons of national defence. It- is proving a fine thing for the_ lads theinselves, and its results will soon set -it rest the nri-sg-ivings of doubtful parents, Ifc is irtipwving the clxafao* tor atid ph.ysiqw _of the lads by keeping their badies healthy and directing their minds to serious mat" ters, besides teaching them prompt .- obedienen and self-respect. Tho lloman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney gave expression to the thoughts which must h-av-o . been passing thyongli the minds of thousands, of those who witnessed the parade when ho declared: "That is a splendid creation. It gives great hope of the future. I a.rn glad to be here to see thorn." Tho general impression might bp sumn»4 up Sn the- words ' adiMi-ations hope, and pleasure.