AN ARMY OF THE EMPIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3157, 7 April 1909, Page 3

AN ARMY OF THE EMPIRE.

IMPERIAL CO-OPERATION

GENERAL STAFF PROPOSITION. , Major-General J. G. [load, Inspector Genera] cf the Australian Forces, leaves by next weeks' steamer for New York on his return to the Commonwealth, writes a Lender" correspondent under date of February 19. General Hoad's mission in England was kept rather quiet, but it is understood that good progress has been made with the negotiations for the establishment of an Imperial general staff, in terms of a resolution of the last Imperial Conference. Canada also sent its Minister for Militia (Sir F. W. Borden}, and the scheme has been very carefully worked out. Nothing will be made known until the views and concurrence of the Cape and New Zealand have been obtained. General Head is to spend some tim* 1 in America studying the United States army and the Canadian militia. The Home proposals, framed on colonial suggestions largely, aim at a consolidation, both for peace and war. For the former it is suggested that each State should organise its units on the lines of the regular army plan, and instead of having miscellaneous collection of horses, food and artillery, should organise these into regimental units, brigades, and divisions, as is the case with British troops. They would then have ammunition columns, field engineer companies, supply and transport companies, field ambulances, and ail the services to place troops directly into action. By this means the military organisation would be identical all over the Empire, and each colony would be self-contained, in addition, and this would ensure an absence of confusion when colonial contingents are thrown together with regular troos in war time. This plan would provide regular model divisions, made up as follows: Three infantry brigades of 12 battalions. Twelve batteries of field artillery. Four field, etc., companies of engineers. Three A.S.C. companies. Three field ambulances. General hospital and army troops'. One mounted regiment. This would be the home defence organisation, and in war time it is proposedl that such units as are required should be taken to make up complete brigades and divisions for service under their own ti*ained leaders. Thus, if England and India put in the field 15 regular divisions, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa might supply one each, made up entirely of men who offer their services for war. Service would be purely voluntary, but, in view of past experience, in difficulty is apprehended as to numbers. The units selected would move, complete for service, from s their homeland, and would drop into waiting places in the war machine. In the case of a war of secondary importance, the cversea States might furnish one division voluntarily, and if all the various forces were formed on a common plan there would be i)o obstacle to creating instantly a complete ready division after the following manner: — One Canadian brigade. One Australian brigade. One South African brigade. Three New Zfealand batteries. Three Canadian batteries. Three Australian batteries. Three S:>uth s African batteries. Engineer units from the Straits and China. A.S.C. units from South Africa. Medical units from Canada. The regiments of a mounted brigade would be similarly furnished. It is proposed that there should be a common plan of mobilisation, as well as organisation, and that each State would find its own, recruits, horses, supplies and transport, equivalent to j the strength of the force sent into the field. These points, if agreed to, are, however, of reduced value without a common standard of training and education, an<l the negotiations to this end are of a very favourable character. The outcome will'be the establishment of a general staff for the Empire, interchanging its personnel throughout.

The ways of the confidence man are as unexpected as they are tricky. An unsuspecting boniface in Palmerston North is the latest victim. A well-dressed, gentlemanly-looking man, in whom . appeared no guile, strolled up to the boniface in question a short time ago and literally beamed upon him. "Three years ago I came to your house starving and penniless; you took me in and fed me and gave me a clean oed to lis on; I am in different circumstances now and I would like to repay .you. Here is half asovereign," extending at the same time a golden coin of the realm. The proprietor of the boarding-house didn't remember this particular stranger or the incident alluded to, but as many people came to him from time to time he concluded he had forgotten the occurrence, and accepted the half sovereign. The stranger went away, but returned agai'i in the course of a few days. "Ha," he said. ''l have come to stay with you, old fellow; can you put me up?" The proprietor could. He put the genial stranger in his best room and looked after him and ministered to hi« wants for three whole weeks. But the end was near. One day he of the genial aspect casually disappeared. He had obtained three weeks'board and lodging for 10s. Just now there is a very angry man in Palrnerston North who is loking for a genial stranger with intent to do bodily harm.

You have heard the old jests about buying a horse. A mail who goes out to buy without knowledge generally gets taken in. It is much the same when it comes to buying pianos, or, for that matter, organs either. Get the advice of an expert. Consult the Dresden Piano Co., Ltd. Mr M J. Brookes is manager for tho North Island. He, or the resident agent, will guide you to the most satisfactory put-chase, and will arrange for you the most satisfactory terms. Loewl representative, Mr T. li. Hunter.

Effervescent Saline, purifying, refreshing, invigorating to all who suffer from •sickness, headache, Sluggish liver, etc. Price, 2/3, H. T. VV<3od, Chemist and Pharmacist (c> o aixul, Masterton *