Australia's Defenders.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2210, 29 August 1910, Page 5

Australia's Defenders.

The Commonwealth Minister for Defence, Senator Pearce (says the ' Daily Telegraph'), has a New Year present for over 50,000 lads in New South Wales. The present is a rifle ! But in this case the gun is loaded. It is loaded with a condition, and that condition is that the lad must undergo military training for 10 days in every year. And what is more, the boy cannot refuse to accept the Defence Minister's gift. The rifle will be thrust into his hands, and if he declines to undergo the prescribed training certain pains and penalties will be brought into operation which will soon convince him of the folly of attempting to elude the military authorities. In a word, he will be compelled to undergo training. There are thousands of boys in the city, suburbs and country districts who at the present time are blissfully ignorant of the fact that within a short period of months they will be shouldering a rifle and endeavoring to master the technicalities of military drill and musketry. Yet there is no loophole by which any youth under the age of 21 years in the city, suburbs, or large country centres can possibly escape. In less than 12 months every youth in the Commonwealth within reach of a training area will be undergoing military training. How will this affect the -youths who regard with contempt any physical exertion, who find absolute contentment in lounging near an hotel bar with a cigarette between '.heir lips? They will squeal. But it is the Federal Government that orders them to be trained. Aud the Federal Government will sec that they obey. For this compulsory training of the youth of Australia is provided by the Commonwealth Defence Act of 1909. There is talk of an amending measure being introduced by the Fisher Government. Senator Pearce has for years been a consistent supporter of compulsory training, and there is every reason to expect that he will provide for an extension of the compulsory period of training recommended by Lord Kitchener, thus making the •' home training " which he regarded of vital importance much more thorough than it otherwise could have been. It is expected that the Defence Act in its amended and strengthened form will be proclaimed and come into force on Jauuary 1, IUII. In the meantime the necessary preparations are being taken in hand. The compulsory scheme contemplates the ultimate establishment of the following grades : School cadets : 12 to 11 years ; to undergo physical drill and inarching. Senior cadets: 14 to 18 years; to undergo military drill and musketry, aggregating 10 days per annum. Recruits : IS to 19 years; military drill and musketry ; 10 days per annum of which eight days are to be spent in a training camp.

Trained soldiers: ID to 20 years; military drill and musketry, 1(5 days per annum, of which eight are to be spent in a training camp. Trained soldiers: 20 to 25 years; military drill in cam]) for eight days per annum.

First reserves: 25 to 2(5 years; a muster parade to be attended annually. A recent intimation by the Minister for Defence, however, is to the effect that for the next foar years the compulsory scheme will not deal with men over 21 years of age. At the end of that period it will have been disclosed whether the scheme is workable, and there will also be a supply of olliccrs coming forward from the Military College to enable any contemplated extension of the system to be grappled with.