GENERAL GODLEY'S RETURN.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14522, 26 November 1912, Page 4

GENERAL GODLEY'S RETURN.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE SYSTEM. FAVOURABLE IMPRESSIONS. fSPECIAT, TO " THE I*nE SS.") INVERCARGILL, November 25. General Godley, Commandant of tho New Zealand Defence Forces, returned from Australia by the Melbourne steamer this morning. The steamer missed the morning tide, and was unable to berth on arrival, but General and Mrs Godley -were landed by a special tender.

When-approatrhed by an interviewer, General Godley made a brief statement relative to his tour. Tho objects of his tour were, he said, generally understood, and he had been, pleased with ail that he had seen. He visited the Royal Australian Military College, and, from his observations, he was well satistied with the way in whic'fl tne sixteen 2*ew Zealand Cadets located there were l>eing treated. The manner and tho method of going about the work, as well as the progress the New Zealanders had made, also pleased him. Following that very satisfactory visit, be journeyed to Melbourne, whero he paid visits to the cordite factory j remount depot, and ot&er Australian military institutions and factories. While in Melbourne, General Godley conferred with tho Commonwealth defence authorities in regard to the possibilities of the forces of Australia and New Zealand co-operating in the event of war. Speaking of this conference, ho said:—"Of course, I cannot say what transpired there, except that we had a very satisfactory conference, and as a result definite proposals are to be formulated, and these will be submitted to the respective Governments." Ho went on to say that it was his good fortune to witness a review of 18,000 Senior Cadets by tho GovernorGeneral of the Commonwealth. At this review he was impressed by the staking efficiency of the organisation and administration of the Cadet branch of tho service, and with the means by which such a large number of Cadets wero assembled and marshalled for review. Tho boys paraded wer© generally of good physique, and were very promising material for tho Australian Territorial forces. All were fully tmiformed and equipped, and this was ono of the facts which served to give the impression that the Australian authorities are sparing no expense in their efforts to mak<v t-heir project of universal militarytraining a reality and a complete success. The authorities were, he said, going to great pains in. order to ensure* that all ranks and branches of the service would be thoroughly and properly armed and equipped, so that thoy I would bo able to perform their military ; duties to tho best advantage. At tbe time of his visit, camps were being arranged for everywhere, and the arrangements were on a large scale. At these camps, brigades and still larger assemblages, comprising all arms, would go under canvas during the summer. "Everywhere in Australia/ General Godley concluded, "tho schemo is flourishing satisfactorily '' General Godley and Mrs Godley will leavo Invercargill to-morrow afternoon for Queenstown, and are due to arrivo in Dunedin on Thursday. After visiting Clyde on Wednesday, they will spend two days in Dunedin, and will reach Christchurch on Saturday.