The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 11. LORD KITCHENER'S REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 336, 11 March 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 11. LORD KITCHENER'S REPORT.

The special mission on which the Em pire's foremost active soldier visited Australia and New Zealand, to advise the Governments of the Commonwealth and the Dominion in the matter of ren dering up-to-date and effective the citizen armies that are to be created under the Defence Acts created on the recom mendation of the British War Office, j has been fulfilled. Both Australia and New Zealand adopted the wishes of the Conference and the War Office to standardise their forces with those of the rest of the Empire, and went further. I each deciding on universal training. The affirming or these great principles, how ever, could not of itself ensure security; effect has to be given to the principle on lines which, while not imposing militarism on the people, will ret ensure that th« training given is such as to lie of real value. In the main Lord Kit chener has agreed with the proposals of the Defence Acts, but in matters of detail, and particularly with regard to "the trailing provisions and the period of compulsory training, he is of opinion that further sacrifices will have, to be •made by the manhood of the country if their value as a strong fighting force is to be placed beyond doubt. The key note oi' the recommendations is that efficiency is the first essential. Reading between the lines of the Field-Marshal's report, it is easy to see that he does not consider the means taken to train, and the periods of training, sufficient to ensure efficiency in the field. We do not think anyone will venture to question his expert opinion, so it resolves itself into this: that the large expenditures at present proposed both by Australia and New Zealand for land defence would be to a large extent so much money wasted. If, therefore, to render our defence scheme thoroughly effective it is necessary to increase the annual cost, the country has no alternative but j to face it, or abandon defence provi sion altogether. It would be th e acme of national absurdity to continue along costly lines that one of the foremost military organisers and experts in the world has condemned, when for an increased annual outlay the whole of the money would give the results the coun. try requires. We cannot say we view without some apprehension the growth of the financial burden the Dominion will soon have to bear, but it is the price of the best provision we can make to de fend ourselves against possible attack and must entail some sacrifices. To a!! intents and purposes Lord Kitchener has recommended the construction of a defence system for Xew Zealand on exact ly similar lines to that recommended for Australia. The country, he suggests should be divided into fifty districts, each o'f which would be under the control of a highly qualified officer, who shall be responsible for the recruiting, organisation, and training of the youth and manhood of the district. Particular attention is to foe given to the training of staff officers and the citizen officers, for on the efficiency and enthusiasm of these instructors the success of the whole scheme depends. While everyone must agree that efficient officering is! vitally essential, there will no doubt be many who, like Mr. Massey, will object to the carrying on of compulsory training beyond the age of twenty-one years. We do not know what answer Mr. Massey can make, however, to Lor] Kitchener's emphatic opinion that it would bo unsafe to rely solely on youths tor the effective army, unless he pre sumes to pose as a military expert of' equal ability. Under the scheme proposed service is to be universal, and the period of training suggested per annum over and above the customary drill and parades known as home training, is as follows:—For junior cadets, 12 to 14 years, 120 hours; for senior cadets, 1! to 18 years, equivalent to 16 days; recruit training, 18 to 19 years, 16 days, 8 of which to be in camp; trained sol diers, 19 to 20 years, 16 days, 8 of which to be in camp; 20-21, 21-22, 22-23, 23-21, 24-25 years, 6 days in camp,- 25-26 years, muster parade only. It will be seen that annual training is advised by Lord Kitchener up to 26 years of age; Mr. Massey opposes any extension beyond 21 years, as provided under the Defence Act of last year. In our opinion the people of New Zealand are serious in their desire to become fit to protect themselves, and, though it is going to entail greater sacrifices in time and money than were thought necessary, the sacrifices will be made.