EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9569, 16 August 1909, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

EXPERT TABYQIHEfSTIOttS. - )»WW' MISSION. . . United Preai Association—By Electric Ta egraph Copyright. LONDON, August 13. Mr R. B. Haldane, Secretary of State for War, replying in the House of Commons on a question by Mr W. VV. Ashley, (Conservative member fjf Blackpool), regarding Lord Kitchener's Med iterranian post, said the discussions at the Defence 'Confer j :.es show-d that an opportunity existed for a better and more comprehensive organisation of the military iorces of the Crown, wherever stationed. It had become evident, said the Minister, that there was mora work to go locally than could be done at head-quarters , therefore it was important that the various subdivisions of the whole problem of Imperial defence should be studied on the spot by officers of high standing and wide experience, with time at their disposal to fully consider the questions involve/I. Moreover, in the case of the Mediterranean command ihere was the inspection of the regular troops throughout the military atations and in Africa, and the giving of military advice to the local authorities. It was impossible at present, concluded Mr Haldane, to forsee or define the excent to which such duties might expand in the future, and so modify the situation. There were large possibilities of work and re-organisation opening themselves up.

UNIFYING THE EMPIRE FORCES. Received August 15, 5.5 p.m. LONDON August 14. Mr R. B. Haldane, speaking at Bradford, referred to the Defence Conference, and said that he was glad to announce that there wtre plans more than within sight for unifying the forces throughout the Empire. It was not for nothing that Lord kitchener was going to Australia and New Zealand, then assuming command of the Mediterranean, with the duty of organising the troops in South Africa. He had a still larger duty in the working of plands and the necessary co ncentrations in case the Empire was attacked. Wherever the theatre and the future war, weather in Australia, Africa, India, or Britain, the forces of the Empire would be so organised as to'enable them to be concentrated. General Sir John French was going to Canada to work out plans there.

THE ADMIRALTY AND LORD BERESFORD.

RECENT ALLEGATIONS. SUB-COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Received August i 5, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, August 14. The sub-committee of- the House of Commons appointed by Mr Asquith has issued its report on the recent allegations made against the Admiralty, and declares that during the time covered by Lord Beresfdrd's allegations, namely, April, 1907, to April, 1908, no danger to the country resulted from the Admiralty's arrangements for war, whether considered from the standpoint of tne organisation or distribution of the fleet, numbers of

ships or preparation of war plans. "We feel bound to add," states the report, "that the arrangements were quite defensible in themselves, though not ideally perfect, and were in practice seriously hampered through the absence of cordial relations between the Board of Admiralty and the Commander-in-Chiei of the Channel Fleet. The Admiralty does not appear to have taken Lord Beresford sufficienly into their confidence regarding the reasons for the* dispositions of which he took exception. Lord Beresford, en the other hand, appears to have failed to appreciate or carry out the spirit of the Board's instructions. an d recognise their permanent authority."