THE GENERAL INTERVIEWED

Press, Volume L, Issue 14956, 1 May 1914, Page 7

THE GENERAL INTERVIEWED

INTERESTING COMMENTS

The impression left after a chat with General Sir lan Hamilton is one ot admiration for his kindly and unassuming personality, which is but poorly disguised by tho air of keenness alertness, and quick decision, grimed during a Umg life « J act,vo poWwrm S- \ representative of "The Press" was fortunate enough to lwtvc a chat with the General on his journey up from Christchurch, and, as was practically inevitable, the conversation nrst turned upon Sir lans impressions of what he had soon in New 'Zealand. "I fear that I cannot make any rcallv serious military criticisms ior the purposes of publication." said tho General, "because, you see. 1 have urst, to make a report to your Government, and I do not think it would do to give away tho material of the report before it has first been handed to tno authorities. 1 intend, in that report, to make, a complete statement, and it is probable that the Minister may think fit to publish if- later on. As a matter of fact, it would be hardly fair at this stage of my visit to make criticisms, nor should 1 care to compare your work here with tho work done in Canada and Australia. I can say, however, that I am delighted with tho physique and stamina of the troops that I "havo seen so far in this Dominion, and I might, make a comparison with Australians that could be made by any globo-trottor—namely, that the Australians seem to be a little more lanky, and not so squarely built as the New Zealanders. 1 can also say that during tho long tour I have had. tha? I am not disappointed with what I have seen; on the contrary, I have been delighted with the general gooo quality of the work done, and the remarkable progress made. I was very pleased with Matarae, and I consider that the troops there carried out the advanced work given them to <io in a highly creditable manner. PRAFSE FOR GUNNERS. "New Zealand does not lack gunners of an excellent class, and the type of men that come forward to this arm of tho Service is a very good one, indeed. Artillerymen are almost always enthusiastic; tho drivers are lovers of horses, and keen about their animals, while those of a mechanical turn of mind naturally are keen on handling tho guns. From what T havo already noticed in Now Zealand, I can see that your men can drive and can handle guns, and you havo somo fine batteries. AIR-CRAFT. "At the present timo I should not like-to make a definite pronouncement with regard to air-craft, but I think it would be a pity to neglect this branch in Australasia. If a nation can hold its land and its waters within the threemile limit it might just as well hold its air. j DUNTROON COLLEGE. "You people aro lucky in being ablo to send your young officers to such an excellent college as th© Duntroon Military College in Australia. I think it is a splendid place, and I was much interested during the visit I paid to the institution. I took particular care to enquire into tho working of tho College, and I found everybody happy, healthy, and convinced that ho was making the best use of his timo. I mado special enquiries while thoro to find out if the New Zealanders who were sent there suffered from being relegated to a 6pe- ! cial y cliquo among themselves, but I am happy to state that there is nothing of the sort apparent. I found that men chummed together according to what their "year" happened to he, and there was absolutely no friction between Australians and New Zealanders, anei no distinctions mado whatever. I havo had quito recent experience of Kingston Military College in Canada (and thus place I may explain is not purely a military college, as somo of tho pupils are trained as civil engineers and follow civil occupations), which is supposed to bo the best in Canada. I also know West Point, Sandhurst, Woolwich, and also some of tho bigger colleges on the Continent, and I may say, without flattery, that in Duntroon you have a college secoud to none. Inis sounds like a sheer compliment, but in my opinion it is tho truth." COMPULSORY TRAINING. It was with some diffidence that tho pressman touched on the subject ot compulsory training, but General Hamilton at once consented to talk about the vexed question. '1 don t intend to enter into polemics on the subject, but the conditions at Homo and out hero aro entirely different. There are technical objections to conscription in tho United Kingdom that don r t exist hero at all. We have to enlist 30,000 recruits every year at Homo, who have to bind themselves for 12 years' professional service in any other part of tho world. _Our hold on Egypt, India, tho Cape, South Africa, and other places depends on our getting these n.en, who are necessary for garrisons, and also must bo had for exjioditionarj forces, which are capable of being sent anywhere. \\o only get them now by the skip of our teeth, so think what the effect would bo on that recruiting market of giving to our young men 4 or 6 months' training between the ages of 18 and 19 years this being just at the time when five-eighths of our recruits are obtained for the permanent force. "Your o ditions here are very far removed fi .>m • ascription : in fact, tho service if; so k>V> '■, that to think of Wiling it coiuserip'ion is absurd. I admit that there are hardships in the Continental stylo of conscription, for a yound man is taken for extended periods just when he needs to be starting to mako a livine for himself, but I cannot see what there is to cavil about at tho mild ami sensible way in which the Australasian colonies aro trying to cope with the question of defence. You start with tho boys, who gain a great deal physically and morally, and yot do not suffer tho same loss as tho taking of a man would entail. Tho bulk of tho drudgery of the service is done with early, and tho little that is demanded of your citizen soldiers or Territorials cannot justify anybody in calling that service conscription." In conclusion, General Hamilton said that with reference to tho alleged yellow peril he feared that the information he could give would be of little advantage to our Government. He would Tather not give an opinion as to whether tho danger was imminent or not. as he might got info trouble.