LORD KITCHENER'S TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 325, 26 February 1910, Page 5

LORD KITCHENER'S TOUR.

THE WELLINGTON RECEPTION. By Telegraph.—Press Associate Wellington, Friday. The Town Haii was packed yesterda afternoon for the Mayoral reception t Lord Kitchener, and many hundred were unable to obtain admission. Altt wether about five thousand attendee] Lord Kitchener arrived at 4.30 p.m., ac companied byJLord Piunket, Sir Josepi Ward, and others. The Mayor, Dr. Newman, delivered i brief speech of welcome, and was fol lowed by His Excellency the Goverao and Sir Joseph Ward, bo in or whom re fened to the important nature of Lon Kitchener's visit. In reply, Lord Kitchener said it w a great satisfaction to him to visit tin capital of New Zealand. Wherever in had been in the Dominion he had beei impressed by the enthusiasm displayec on the question of maintaining an efl'i cient defence force He trusted tin measures about to be undertaken bj the Government would fulfil the na tlonal requirements. No one who visitec this country could doubt the deep-seated and warm-hearted loyalty of its inhabitants. WELLINGTON'S USUAL REVIEW WEATHER. CADET CAMP FLOODED. Wellington, February 25. SoaKing 'rain fell all night and still continues. As a result, the programme I for Lord Kitchener to-day had to be greatly varied. The inspection of the forts arranged to take place at 8.30 this morning was not held, and the men at the forts have returned to town. A meeting between the Ffeld-Marslial, Sir Joseph Ward, and the members' of the Defence Council was held at 10 o'clock. ]!t was decided that Lord Kitchener should go out to Hutt Park and inspect 4000 cadets in camp there, at 3.15 p.m. The ground" about the camp is under water, and many of the tents are uninhabitable. The boys and officers are going about in bare feej; in many instances. .SOME ADVICE FOR NEW ZEALAND. Wellington, Last Night. Lord Kitchener was entertained at a a dinner to-night by the Government at the Grand Hotel. Among those present were his Excellency Lord Piunket, members of the Ministry, the Hon. Guinness (Speaker of the House of Representatives') . and several members of both branches of the Legislature. In his speech Lord Kitchener remarked: "By the Bill which has recently been passed compulsory military training ha? been introduced, but it must be remembered that though in this "way the foundation has been laid, it requires to be supplemented by a thoroughly sound organisation and military system in order to produce the best results and to obtain efficiency in the,, most economical and satisfactory maimer. My recent memorandum to the Government of Australia on the defence of the Commonwealth has now been published, and although there are naturally considerable difleiences between the conditions of the islands forming the dominion of New Zealand and the continent of Australia, the main principles of that memorandum will, in my opinion, apply to the 'problem before us of maintaining effieifi.it land defences, concerning which you have asked my advice. The first necessity in all military organisations is a thorough grounding for the officers and men in the fundamental work of their profession. The compulsory training laid down in the Bill will not bring this about unless a willing and zealous spirit exists' amongst the men themselves, who should, in the pursuance of their duty, to become efficient defenders of their country, prepare themselves for the compulsory work in camp by constant asd cheerful training in their homes. This necessitates the country placing competent instructors' in close proximity to where the men live, s'o that every opportunity should be fully utilised to impart at home thorough instruction in company and battalion training. I would impress upon you the first importance of providing efficiently trained and disciplined fighting men, for whom the departmental services of an army exist. These services, which include supply, transport, and medical arrangements', munitions of war, etc.. are of undoubtedly great importance, and must eventually be organised and provided in proportion to the requirements of the combatant forces maintained. But, vastly important as they become when you have your trained fighting man. you must remember that they arc subsidiary. You wiTl find tliat a sound

I military organisation cannot be quickly J created out" of what now exists, and consequently there wM be a, period of change fronTTlie old system, which has been found wanting, to whatever new system may be adopted. It is difficult, and, in my opining, not desirable, to lay down any pwtcfse rules for this period of transition, for to do so might, and probably would, prove a source of embarrassment to the men who have actually to carry out. the work with such means a? may be at their hand. For this reason it seems to me that during this period special attention should be paid fot'fose essentials which are necessary to produce in eours'c of time an efficient and well-equipped fighting force. When that is done, then minor matters, which may seem of momentary 'importance, will be seen in their true perspective, and can lie adapt- j ed "to the general organisation in a satisfactory manner." PRAISE FOR. THE CADETS. BAREFOOTED PARADE IX TILE MUD "A FINE LOT OF BOiS." "Wellington. Last Xisrht. | •'I want to tell you that Lord Kit eh- ] ener asked me to"say that he was impressed and delighted with what lie saw to-day. lie was very pleased with the fine lot; of boys, and what excellent material they form for the defence forces of the country."" " It was with these, words that Major McDonald, the officer commanding the cadets in camp at the Hutt Park, addressed the battalion officers at the close of Lord Kitcheners inspection this afternoon. It. was praise well merited. The boys had gone through a very trying ordeal, and they acquitted themselves excel- | lently under conditions wlsich few cadet

battalions are asked to undergo for re. view purposes. Prior to the inspectioi by the Field-Marshal there was a veri table deluge. Ham set in overnight. A heavy misty rain "Hung over the cami all the morning. J3y noon it had growr worse, and iiy three o'clock, just as thf ladi marshalled out or., the broad green field, a stiTT heavier shower came down The ground, too, was sodden, and in { parts contained miniature lakes, which j however, were negotiated by the boys i with wonderful alacrity. J They seemed determined that not even the water should interfere with their , efforts to be .seen at tneir best. Here j and, there a lad tripped, but he was soon jup again with his fellows. The dense I crowd in the bandstand applauded enj thusiastic-ally as each battalion swept past. Tliere were fourteen batalions. j comprising 3800 cadets (defence and I school). | Lord Kitchener, accompanied by the Prime Minister and all. the Cabinet Ministers present in town, reached the Park at 3.20 p.m. The boys were all ready for him, and the Field-Marshal immediately got to business, skipping a f CMV email lakes on his way to the review ground. The Garrison "Band played a selection of welcome and the spectator cheorea heartily. The fact that some of the battalions paraded in bare fc-;t did not detract irom their generally smart appearance. In gave rfither an air of novelty to the proceedings. Indeed, in this respect, in the drizzling rain, they were placed rather at an 'advantages for they appeared to be able to TiouT the gfounrt better. The Field-Marshal sprang a surprise 'on the bovs. Instead o* ordering thi"n to march past in the usual review style at the ordinary parade walk, the cadets came along at a smart run. He h.td first of all gone through the lines and made an inspection, giving ocoasionnilv & word of encouragement. The bo-s ■were right on their mettle. Most of Hhem were soaked through, but they relished their work. Battalion after baftalibn swept past in business style. IfTook some time before the fourteen battalions had completed their manoeuvres. Thcl'.elasted about half an hour, -Lord Kiteliener immediately aftenvanls taking his departure amidst the ,-heevs oi the spectators. The parade showed: Staff, 5; senior cadets, 462; junior cadets, 3305. j Ko. 1 Taranaki battalion, under Major Sandford, paraded 13 ollicers and , 202 rank anil file; ;INo. 2 battalion, under Major Stratford, 5 ollicers and 123 Tank and file;. ;No. 4 Wanganui battalion (Hawera, Eltham, etc.), un.ler ICajor Strack, 12 ollicers and 1!)8 rank and file.