COLONEL KITCIILNER'S SCHEME OF TRAINING.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12497, 7 May 1906, Page 8

COLONEL KITCIILNER'S SCHEME OF TRAINING.

* FURTHER DKTAILS.

(srr/ ial to " the riui.ss.") AUCKLAND, May 6. f'.'ioio his departure hy the Sierra on Friday Colonel Kitchener was inter-vie-.w-d by a reproseiitative of the "New Zealand Herald'" ou the question of j compulsory military education. "I think." said the Colonel, "that I pretty! uell cove re; I the ground in my letter, j but possibly there are one ov two points that may lie emphasised. For instance, I would like it clearly understood that my proposal does not up ply to the adult volunteer of to-day. The idea of conipuUcry military training is distastetul i to the average volunteer in the Old i Country, ;uid I should say probably, more so to the citizen soldier of the colonies. At tho same time, my obser-1 vat ions and enquiries lead mc to the i conclusion that they aro not altogether averse to a. properly arranged torm of I military education tor the youth ot the community, and I would therefore start with tho lads at school. Tho cadet movement m New Zealand i.s in the I right direction, and the youngsters show I a decided aptitude and liking for military training, but it does not go quito! lar enough. Just as they have mas-j terod the alphabet of soldiering they leavo school, and in the majority of | instanoes do not continue tho conns? of training, thus the money expended is largely lost, as the hulk cf what, they have lieen taught is soon forgotten." "What, then, do you suggest should be done?'' " Well, in the firpt instance, I think tliat, greater encouragement might be given to the de/ence. cadet movement. From the schools the boys could Ik; drafted, if they ho wished,, into corps, which would form continuation c!a*.os, and would carry them to the age at which they could join tho adult volunteer corps. Having reached this stage, it should bo made compulsory for them lo continue in the eervice for, say, five years. I would not mako tho service irksome to them. They would probably not- be asked to drill a** often as the volunteers in the colony do at prosent, nor would it be necessary for them to be at any time taken -away from their employment or from tliei'r home, 1 ?. Ah the same time tho period mentioned would enable tho officers to thoroughly equip them as soldiers, and lit them to serve their country should they at any time in after life be called upon to defend the country against a foreign Power. After serving their five yearn their names would be placed on the list in order that, they might be called upon, if occasion demanded, and thus a strong and efficient foroo would lie built up at. comparativelysmall cost, and after all but little inconvenience to the men themselves." "Your proposal would mean an increase of arms, Colonel, as these reserves would be of little value otherwise in the case of a hcs'i'e invasion?*' "Quite so, if, the colony is to bo placed in_ a position to play its part properly in case of 'emergency, additional arm-* will be necessary. There is, ho far as I can see, by no means a sufficient supply of .arms or ammunition, and tho present system of centralisation is wrong. Each centre, should be provided with sufficient ammunition of war to place it in a petition to act independently ih an emergency. I am, and always have been, a s-trong advocato of decentralisation.*'