DOMINION'S ARMIES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17769, 22 May 1923, Page 12

DOMINION'S ARMIES.

— *-■ —: SHOULD THEY BE SELFCONTAINED,

General Sir lan Hamilton believes that in another war Australians should not be placed unreservedly under English commanders, and points the illogicalty of stinting the Duntroon Military College. ±ie oelieves that Australian officers would have better opportunities of promotion than under .British generals of duterent temeperamenc, training, and outlook, declares the special London correspondent of the "Syuiley Sun." He believes tnat every Australian private should "carry a mai-sSul's'baton in his knapsack." As it is, brilliant, generals may be forced to remain divisional commanders who possess every facility tor promotion. Major-General bir F. Maurice says that Australians obviously misunderstood Sir lan ijamilton, who merely interpreted the views of the leading military experts with whom the British Government is at present discussing plans in the closest co-ordination with the Army, Navy and Air Force. It is of the greatest importance that the problem of Imperial Defence 6hall be treated in the broadest way, he says, and that the whole Empire's interest shall be considered. Consequently it is essential that not only the strategic plar?/; of the British Army, Navy, and Air Force shall be co-ordinated, but also the whole defensive forces of the Empire. . An advisory body should be constituted to survey Imperial Defence as a whole. The representation of the Dominions on such a body would ensure that their various problems would be considered equally with those of the Mother Country. Such a body would not "interfere in any way with Dominion administration. Its functions would bo advisory and it would submit co-ordinated plans to the respective Governments for consideration. The question is now before a Committee of the British Cabinet. Under the scheme the most capable Dominion officers, irrespectively of the force in which they served, would be given the fullest opportunity of advancing, i Oe*nerifl Maurice emphasised that undoubtedly the little publicity given to' the pre-war activities of the Dominions had led the world to overlook their military existence, nnd not to expect that they would unite to produce an effective fighting organisation. The Germans certainly never anticipated that the Dominions could throw a million men of such fine fighting quality into the scale, or they would not have been so keen to rush into hostilities. The presence of Dominion officers on the Imperial Staff wouid be a constant reminder of the unity of the Empire, and would provide ,an ~dded deterrent to future ware. /