The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8. OUR UNPREPAREDNESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 50, 8 June 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8. OUR UNPREPAREDNESS.

Whether the oft-quoted saying of the famous French marshal, that' "God is always on the side .of the big battalions," has lost or gained value from a military point of view is for experts to determine. But allowing the subject of numbers t» pass by, the present conditions governing warfare, have made it imperative that the quality of the material should be of the best. With the passing away of the hand-to-hand comlbats and the cavalry charges, beloved of the poet and novelist, comes a demand for training and organisation of forces hitherto undreamt of. Personal valor still counts for much, but it avails little if the dominant 'brain has erred. Hitherto, the Briton has been apt to regard with complacency the militarism of his Continental neighbors resting safe and secure behind the first line of defence, the Navy. Slowly the warning of military authorities have gained ground, but with the advent of Mr. Haldane to the British War Office, came the inception of ascheme to remodel the Army—the last step before the adoption of conscription. Of its success it is needless to comment, beyond remarking that the response from many quarters indicated «ne growth of the feeling among thinking men that it were well that a second lino of defence, as well as the first, should be prepared and ready for emergencies. The movement has spread to the colonies, and it may be taken as admitted that a consensus of oplnron ex?sts that our system of defence should be improved. Last session was remarkable for the gift of a Dreadnought to th» Home Government. Then followed the Defence Act. At last New Zealand was to give up "playing at soldiers," and cake to military preparations seriously. Ail males between the ages of. IS and 21 years have to serve either as general training sectionists or territorials. Certainly the training was limited, but it was the beginning. Then it was announced the age was to be increased to 25 years, and those with any knowledg« of military matters began to think that after all the scheme would result in the creation of a force, which, should the occasion ever arise, would do good work in the defence of the Dominion. Their hopes, however, were doomed to disappointment, for the Prime Minister, with characteristic suavity, has now inferentially informed the public that of those between the age of 21 and 25 only about one in ten will be taken, the ballot determining the choice. Shortly, the Prime Minister's arguments in favor of such an extraordinary proposal are that it would be better to have an efficient army of 20,000 than 50,000; that it would not interrupt or interfere with ■business, so much; and, last but not least, the expense would not be so great. But why should the army of 50,000 be not equally efficient as the army of 20,000? The training would be the same.- Of the other two arguments little heed be said, but it is strangely reminiscent of the spirit which governed the English during the Napoleonic wars and caused the Emperor to designate the English as "a nation of shopkeepers." Lord Kitchener has only recently visited this country. If his report were worth having it was surely worthy of adoption in its entirety, without being mutilated to gain votes or placate irate constituents. It is further indicated that the period of 14 days set aside for tramtng is to be reduced, to a week, and an inference has been drawn that this week is to be on the same basis- as the existent period. If such is the wise, there is very little doubt that the scheme will be but a scant improvement on the present methods. If the Prime Minister's ideas ave pjven effect to, the failure of the scheme is almost certain. To differentiate—fort that is what the ballot means—between the young men of the country must lead to military training being treated as a joke ; 6y those who escape drawing the fatal, number. Whatever the age limit is there should be universality. That the Dominion is unprepared in the event of a hostile invasion taking place is admitted. The fortifications at the four principal ports are a name rather than a reality. Of weapons there is a deficiency, and should the day suddenly come when the. nation is called to arms, a great many shot guns would have to be used, unless the primitive pitchfork and scythe were again adopted as the standard arms of a portion of the forces. To give a concrete instance of our military inefficiency, it may be stated that the Taranaki .battalion has not a machine gun or weapon which in the present days is regarded as a necessary adjunct to every corps. What would be the good of serving out a gun of this nature when war had commenced? 1 Furthermore, there is no artillery in Taranaki, and it is said that the powers that be are not at all enamored of any suggestion in this direction. Apart altogether from the military aspect, there remains what is vastly more important to the well-being and welfare of the community, the training of the rising generation. There are very fewiads and young men whom a course of military discipline would not improve mentally and physically. An adoption of the German system might : ae tried here with advantage. In the land of "Meinself und Gott" the failnre to pass a certain examination in the schools increases the period of military service. Is there no room for something of the nature here? High schools and technical schools are situated throughout the Do-1 minion, and it requires no profound study of departmental returns to ascertain how small is the proportion of scholars who take advantage of the opportunities within their reach. Educational inspectors favor increasing the school age, recognising the cost to the country of maintaining our secondary schools, and

the fact that the standard of education of the average child is not as high as it should (be. Take as an instance our country towns, and what support is forthcoming for the institution of a "continuance class'"/ Practically none. Why? Because there is no law to force the continuance of education after the school age denned by the Act has been passed. It is not compulsory for a child to pass the sixth standard. If, however, the law provided that the failure to pass a certain examination —higher than the proficiency certificate would be desirable—necessitated a little longer military training, an incentive, now moving, would be supplied to secure a certificate.