LORD KITCHENER'S COMMAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 210, 9 October 1909, Page 3

LORD KITCHENER'S COMMAND.

WHY HE GOES TO THE MEDITERRANEAN. London, August 13. The inwardness of Lord Kitchener's new appointment to tile Mediterranean command is explained by the military correspondent of The Times in an interesting article. Iu view of the naval activity of Germany and her allies, both of whom are Mediterranean Powers, the presence at Malta of a chief capable of organising and, if need be. directing the British forces which are or may become available in the Mediterranean has Income more necessary than before. The interests which the British garrisons in the Mediterranean, in co-operation with our naval forces, arc designed to protect arc very important. The possibility of a display, at least, of some efficient and mobile military force in the Mediterranean has become a diplomatic and a military necessity of the times.

To Lord Kitchener may also be en'trusted the task of organising those i heterogeneous Anglo - African for *es | which are now scattered throughout the j length and breadth of Africa, ruled by 1 various departments of State, and possessing neither semblance of unity, nor cohesion, nor powers of co-operation for purposes of defence. Our military position in Africa is not unlike that which we held in India more than a century ago. and the time has come when a beginning should be made of some unification for defensive purposes of those forces, very numerous in the aggregate,* which garrison and police the wids African territories under the British Raff. |

I No great war is likely to occur in which Egypt will not again play her .historic part (says The Times' correspondent). A military High Coinmis- ; sinner and Commander-in-Chief in the ! Mediterranean with perfect knowledge of Indian. Egyptian, and African problems. a master of Arabic, and in do 12 touch with the military ideas and aspirn lions of Australia, is in a specially favorable position to organise and, Ifi needs be. to direct Iho British fores which exist in or might gravitate to thj Middle Sea. It is in the ideas unfolded to the Defence Conference in this sense thai, one musf seek Ihe inner meaning] of the appointment of Lord Kitchener 0; Ihe Mediterranean command. Even ifi circumstance* should require Lord Kit• j cliener'.s presence in another sphere of activity before his command expires in j th' usual Way, he may still have tini" to l-iy the basis of th;- military organisa•tio.i required by the policy of the government which he serves, and it is not likfly that he would, if called to -wv ol hi t-.-i'liere of usefulness, be compelled io coinpl-'te the normal tenure of his Mediterranean command. Xot less will Lord Kitchener'* influence he felt at home, llis present-,'' oil the D fence Committee will bring to that Imdv knowledge of thr> problems of the which cannot but; add weigit and authority to ju advice. His presence on the Selection Hoard is assured by virtue of his appointment, and is senior officer the presidency of the Board will naturally devolve upon him. In this position his services should prove highly advantageous to the Army, for no man wa>* ever less subject to influence in appointing men to high commands than Lord Kitcli; ncr. and hits knowledge of the officers of the Army in India will be of much assistance to the deliberv lions of the Board. Whether, therefore, we consider the increased importance 0 f the Mediterranean command upon which (he War Ollice communique lav* special stress; whether we think of the new developments of Imperial defence which are pending; whether we attach importance to the recurring presence of Lord Kitchener at home ami hi« connection with the War Ollice through the Selection Board, and with the higher councils of government through the Defence Commit tee; or whether, finally, we allow personal consideration- to weigli with us. we must, concludes The Times writer, allow that there are good nnl sufficient reasons why the flovernmcnt should have offered this appointment to the Commander-in-Chief in India, and why Lord Kitchener should have accepted it.