THE COMMANDANT OF THE FORCES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13910, 8 December 1910, Page 7

THE COMMANDANT OF THE FORCES.

GENERAL GODLEY'S ARRIVAL AT

WELLINGTON

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW,

(srEcui. to "the press.")

WELLINGTON, December 7.

Major-General Godley, who is to take command of the New Zealand forces under the new system of compulsory training, arrived to-day in the Manuka from Sydney. Ho impresses ono as a very keen soldier, a man of a good deal more than average ability and determination, and at the samo time one who is likely to ba popular with all ranks in New Zealand. I interviewed him at Government House this evening, and though ho was not inclined to talk for publication about the work that he has before him hero, he chatted quite freely, and in an interesting way, on general military matters. The conversation at first turned upon training, and the general emphasised tho point that elementary training must bo thoroughly sound. In tho British Army '< progressive training begins with the ! company unit in the spring; then comes regimental training, brigade work, divisional operations, and, lastly, army manoeuvres iv tho autumn. 'Has thero been any material change in mounted infantry training?" I asked. j General Godley replied that there was very little to speak of. The next query raised the much-de-bated question of cavalry v. mounted infantry, but tho Commandant merely smiled and askod the questioner whether ho had read Childcrs's book, "War and l'Arrae Blanche"—a diplomatic way of suggesting that a pronouncement uiioii such a controversial tonic was better left unsaid, for tho present, at least. As the establishment of the New Zealand Territorial force provides only for mounted infantry, tho day of the New Zealand cavalry corps is apparently not yet. NEW ZEALAND OFFICERS AT HOME. The conversation then turned upon Brigadier-General R. H. Davios, and other New Zealand officers who are at present in England. General Godley said that he had met Brigadier-General Davies frequently at Home, and was on terms of close personal friendship with him. "Does he expect to return to New Zealand eventually?" I asked "I do not think that thero is any doubt about that," was the reply. "His term of appointment is only for four years, and that is nothing to him at his age." "His new command is an important one ?" "Yes," replied General Godley, who wont on to say that in the event of war the Sixth Infantry Brigado at Aldershot (Brigadier-General - Davios' command) would be among tho first lor foreign service. "New Zealand has attracted a lot of attention at Homo, nnd people are greatly impressed by the : remarkable unanimity shown by the New Zealand Press and public on the subject of compulsory training." The General went on to say that he was looking forward with the greatest interest to his work in connection with the new defenco scheme. It was his desire to respect, as far as ho could, regimental traditions and sentiments. "I don't want the peoplo to think that I'm a ruthless sort of new broom." The General also added that he thought that the burden of compulsory training would rest very lightly upon those eligible to be called upon, and that the military enthusiasm engendered by training in the cadets would inspire many to i-olunteer for enlistment iri the territorial force. THE MILITARY COLLEGES. General Godley, while en route to New Zealand, took the opportunity of visiting the Military Academy at West Point, U.S.A., the Staff College at Kingston, and the site of the proposed Military College at Duntroon, N.S.W. He was very much impressed with the training at West Point and at Kingston. At the former, which is very liberally endowed, there are between 500 and 600 students, while at the Canadian College, there are as yet only 120 students. He was. convinced from all he saw and hoard that West Point was having a very important national influence, for its influence was spreading into other colleges and Fchools in a manner that would influence the national character, the methods being; very thorough. The Canadian Collcrrc would in time exert a similar beneficial influence.

For the purnoses of tho Australian Military College the Federal Government had secured n station at Duntroon (New South Wales) with a comfortable country house and farm buildings, and "the other necessary buildings wero now in process of construction. He said he felt quite assured that under the guidance of General Bridges this institution, to which New Zealand was, going to send her young men, would bo a success. On thinking tho matter over in all its bearings, he was of the opinion that it was better for Now Zealand, at all events for some time to come, to send her students to the Australian Military College.

I showed the General the cablegram ] in this evening's newspapers regarding the appointments to the Military College, and asked his .opinion. on thpm. "Yes," he said, "I heard about those appointments when I was in Australia, and I am satisfied they are most ex - cellonl. appointments." Tho General apparently was ouick to seize the opportunity afforded of nutting in a word for the prospective New Zealand students, for. he added. "I am quite satisfied that General Bridges—who. by. the v.-ay. recently visited West Pomt —is loolcini forward to the advent of the Now Zealand youm- men, and that he will take a special interest in their training." IMPERIAL GENERAL STAFF. Asked if there was any general plan in regard to the overseas Dominions and their connection with the Imperial General Staff, General Godley said there was, ?ind that the four men sent out here—himself, Lieut.-Col. E. S. Heard. Lieut.-Col. Burnett-Stuart, and Capt. D. C. Spencer-Smith—with other officers, would form the New Zealand General Staff section of the Imperial General Staff, and in tho same way tho Canadian, South African, and Australian siaff officers would form similar sections in their different countries. In answer to another nuestion. General Godley said he hoped it would be found possible to rend a proportion of well qualified officer's to the staff colleges at Cambericy and Quctta. Thero was no reason why some should not go to India, ho that they might qualify themselves for the Dominion section of tho Imperial General Staff. "Wo hope," he added, "that this will be kept a close horrmtdi, not in the ordinary sense of the word, but in the sense of ofneiencv. What I mean i"* not that it shculd ho a clow borough for officers of tho British Army, but that eventually no one ohould belong to it unlois he has passed through the staff college at Camberley or Quettn. Thus in time New Zealand and Australia and South Africa and Canada might have a e»taff composed of their own men. who would be all staff college men." IMPERIAL TROOPS IN THE COLONIES. I mentioned a conversation I had with Lord Kitchener during his visit to New Zealand on the subject of tho j possibility of a visit of a British regi-

nieiit occasionally to the overseas do-* minions. Lord Kitchener had this id*_ in his mind, and had expressed tho opinion that from an educativo point of view, it would be an excellent! thing. General Godley agreed. He, said if it was practicable it would tindoubtedly have a good effect. He could not, of course, speak of the practicability of it—that was outside hit* domain—but if, for instance, a regiment . could l>© sent hero for a few months ~ on its way Home from India, the effect both from a Dominion and from an Imperial point of view would be good. (PRKS9 ASSOCIATION T9SIEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 7. Maojr-Gencral Godley was asked if he hatl read the recent criticisms of Colonel Gadke, the German military critic, upon the British manoeuvres, and especially of the work done by British officers of high rank. In reply. he. said that it was very difficult for any military man liko Colonel Gadko to form a proper judgment of the officers in question, because lie would not know tho conditions under which ibo manoeuvres wero drawn up. The organisation of tho British manwuvres was drawn up this year by tho War Office primarily for testing mobilisation. Without knowing these conditions the critic's judgment was not of the same value that it would otherwise havo been. '— *