THE AUSTRALIAN WAR RESERVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 186, 7 August 1900, Page 5

THE AUSTRALIAN WAR RESERVE.

GENERAL FRENCH ON HIS

SCHEME

Ah "Evening News" reporter had an interview with General French on the subject of the Commandant's scheme for assisting the Empire in its future troubles by establishing a reserve of 10,000 good men and true in the Sunny South. •■•■■•.

"Now, general," said the reporter, "about your letter to the 'Times.' May I ask whether you have settled what proportion of mounted and unmounted men respectively you would recommend in the carrying out of the scheme you propose?" )

"Well, I should propose to have all arms represented; but very largely maun ted men.: Most of all are wanted good mounted rifles;' but cavalry would not be neglected.

"Any reserve for artillery or such corps as the Army Medical and Army Service?"

"We shall have our reserves of those quite independently of this Imperial corps if we need them, which is doubtful. We have a certain reserve force now in our rifle clubs."

"What method of training would the Imperial reservists get, General Fiench?"

■ "Well, i/f my scheme is carried out properly, the men joining the Imperial reserve would all, without exception, be properly trained men from the various mounted and dismounted regiments before they could join at all, and that being- so, they would not require any very special training-. J should say if they got a course of drill one year and a course of musketry the next year, they would not require very much more. As the preparation of the various contingents proved, it does not take very long to teach averagely good men how to drill and use the rifle; while in the case of men who have passed years in volunteer or partially-paid corps it is only a question of polishing- up."

"How long a period would you say would be necessary in the year for the men to go under canvas or into the field?" ;

"I'should think from ten to twelve days would be sufficient for the annual camps of exercise."

"You propose £8 per annum for Infantry and ;S 12 per annum for cavalry. Would £12 be enough to recoup a> man for. the upkeep of his horse, equipment, etc.?"

"Certainly it would in the country, and it is in the country that we shouid find most of the mounted men—men of the class chiefly required, who are used to roughing it and to working over, all' sorts of gfoiind under all conditions.- I expect the. cities like Sydney arid Melbourne would provide by far the largest proportion o:c the infantry, thus equalising ' to a certain, extent." ■ '

"Are you going, to put the reservists into uniform?''

"That certainly; they ought always to have a suit of field service uniform ready to turn out. in ,and I expect: that some arrangement will be made for each man on transferring out of his cprps to take a uniform with him. I think ..that that insure to be done, so that when each man leaves, his regiment he will still be available in case of .trouble;" ::, . ' ; ' :. ' \

",W,i11.-.the proportion of men enrolled in tlie Imperial reserve be. regulated on the population.basis?"

. "Yes, I f thmk that is sure to be done." '.':■:

'. "But, if I may suggest it, as Australia'will, be federated, would it not be the best thing to take the best men when and where' they offered without any hard and fast like that?" • ; . ' '

"There. is. something to be said for that, 'certainly; but," of course, you will understand that all details will natiirally ~be settled after the principle has been approved. But I should say on that point, that probably the best mounted^ men will be found in the great. ca\tle districts of New South Wales and. Queensland, and the best infantry nearer the towns. What we want first is the establishment of the reserve." i