THE EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 202, 30 September 1909, Page 4

THE EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

UNIFICATION OF 23 ARMY CORPS. A HUGE SCHEME. According to London advices, lire scheme of military standardisation adopted at the Imperial Defence Conference, "means the unilication of 23 Army corps of 48 divisions, each of at least 10,000 men. The bases of the scheme are two:

1. It leaves the colonies with as free a hand in local control as at present. 2. The organisation is entirely for dtfence, and in no sense for aggression. 100,000 CANADIAN SOLDIERS. "While the several forces will be read; to co-operate in Imperial defence, they will be so organised as to be perfectly useful for their own home defence. They will be ready for an Imperial emergency, and uniform in the formation of units, transport, and the like. "Lord Kitchener's task is to suggest and devise a system of training, exchange of stall's, creation of military academics, and, preparation for mobilisation.

"We have our expeditionary force ut six divisions; wo have the Cape with the Mediterranean division; we have Lord Kitchener's nine divisions in India; we have fourteen Territorial divisions at Home; wo have Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, which are not likely to provide fewer than sixteen divisions, having regard to their own interests, for home defence. Indeed, Canada is already talking of 100.000 men.

THE CHAIN OF DEFENCE. "Tile chain of defence will be—iiisl, the Regular expeditionary force, then the Special Reserve battalions, the Tentorial* called up for active service as soon as war breaks out, the Territorial Reserve, the Technical Reserve, and i"ie Veterans' Reserve. Supposing it nccssary to call on the European troops m India, the necessary white garrison might be provided by one of the colonies, say South Africa. Supposing the war in Australia, the Canadian divisions would help. Lord Kitchener and General French will have before them in Australasia and Canada tile duty of giving advice and assistance as to the formation of these local divisions and Army corps.

MALTA'S IMPORTANCE. "Malta is to he used as a sort of Clap ham Junction for defence. Through it will run all the lines by which the Empire's fighting forces will be concentrated at this or that threatened, point. "From Malta Lord Kitchener will inspect and supervise the training of the South African divisions, lie will als) oversee tile defences of Egypt and th.' Mediterranean. Beyond that he will, is ■member of the Committee of Defence, express his views and the decisions at which he has arrived."