The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26. FOR THE FATHERLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 143, 26 September 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26. FOR THE FATHERLAND.

At the risk of indicting boredom by repetition, the truism is again stated that "what im worth having is worth fighting for." New Zealand is worth flighting for. New Zoalanders will have to for Now Zealand. If New Zealand doesn't find it necessary to fight, alio will bo the only nation on earth ■with the experience. If she lives in eternal peace and succeeds in remaining successful, virile and commanding, she will be the sole instance of such an anomaly. It is probably 1 true that the great events of the future will take place in the Pacific. It is possible that isolated New Zealand may have jfche honor of taking part in such events. It is necessary that if sihe is bo honored she may bear herself bravely and with distinction. Again repeating a truism, many citizens scorn soldiering when there is nothing to kill, and so the State, reading the signs on the wall, orders the men of the nation to do their duty. The success of the military scheme to be adopted by New Zealand will lie, not in the application of the Defence Amendment Bill, but in the national spirit of 'the people. The people who will regard the compulsory training scheme as an imposition cannot see beyond the four 'comers of a mere Act of Parliament, but the people who see the necessity of the training in order that New Zealand may lift up her head with the nations and be (unafraid of the enemy at her jgate are to be the deteirmining factor in any passage of arms that occurs. The Premier, in a speech on the subject, set out that the Government was following, as far as possible, the advice of Lord Kitchener, the Empire's greatest soldier, His view was not local; it was Imperial. His ideal is an army of Empire, dominated by the some feelings, the same esprit de corps, the Bame unalterable determination to remain paramount. The new scheme improves with acquaintance, or, rather, with the details of working explained. The only element that is required to make it of the highest effectiveness is national cohesion, enthusiasm and hard work. It is promised that by 1916 this country will have an army of 105,000 men who ha/ve been trained as citizen soldiers. If this result is attained 1 , and this number of men is efficient, the whole system of life and discipline ! will have changed. The system will have left its impress on the country and the men who have been unfortunate enough to secure exemptions from any cause will be sorry that they have not the honor to bear arma There* is to be no balloi; in recruiting. Fifty per cent, of exemptions are to be made of those physically unfit or excluded for any other reason. In our opinion, the most important phase of the Bill is the clause which raises the age up to which men are required' to serve. If the maximum age had remained at twenty-one years, the finest material the country possesses wouW[ have been- exempt; Sunless it volunteered to serve, which it might have done in case of war. The person who most needs discipline in New Zealand is the man between eighteen and twentyfive years, and under the system he is to have ii The palpable weakness of the scheme is in the provision that officers and men attaining the age of twentyfive years may be drafted from the compulsory training branch to the Territorials. That is to say, these men, having attained' their highest usefulness as soldiers/ need only "soldier" as volunteers. It is impossible to satisfactorily work men, some of whom are serving voluntarily and some of whom are forced to serve, in the same regiment, unless the regiment is fighting. And coming down to fighting, it is shown that the New Zealand army may in very truth be part of the Army, of Empire, for it is clear that when the Empire calls an expeditionary force will be available. Should such an expeditionary force be called on in the early years of the new scheme, it would do more to rouse the men of the country to the necessity of military training than any other means. The disciplinary methods under the amended Bill will indicate to officers and mien that the defence force does not belong to them but they to the defence force. The old-time method of selection of officers by ballot will be done away with. The opinions of a corps of recruits will not count. The military authorities will decide who shall be given command of any unit. The idea of civil registration by a magistrate is wholly sound. The system thereby comes under the eye of the civil disciplinary authorities, and the chance® of evasion will be minute. The appointment of a judge advocate versed in military law and whose advice will be available to both parties to a court-martial, is an advance on anything of the kind New Zealand is familiar with. This will do away with the utter absurdities that have been so common in military cases in the past. It is estimated that tihere will be a large army in New Zealand in a few years' time. Will every arm of the service be adequately equipped'? Will there be 105,000 rifles for the army to go into the field with in 1016? Will there be a big standi of arms besides those in use? Wall there be one hundred million cartridges in New Zealand then? Will there be field guns for the batteries? Will the fort guns that are lying about in the rain on 'hillsides be mounted? Will there be transport for the troops? Will a Service 1 Corps for their feeding be organised? 'Will there be an adequate Medical Service? Will the Nursing Corps that at present consists of one lady be augmented, and have the authorities yet arranged for the possible treatment of ten thou/saind sick men? Can the Department sag gg BhbA on (UI the troop borm r>

quired, or the draught and gun animals? It is, of course, assumed that all these details have occupied the Department, and that they will be carefully gone into by the commandant-elect. One of the most refreshing thoughts about the new scheme is that the commandant is to really command. It will be a new experience to New Zealand.