IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 408, 18 January 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

BRITISH ARMY. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, 166,000. .SHORTAGE OF .OFFICERS. (DY TELEGRAPH—MESS ASSOCIATION—COrVRIGnT.) London, January 15. In a speech at Belfast, the Under-Secre-tary to tho War Office, Lord Lucas, said that Grea.t Britain would bo,able to immediately send 166,000 troops abroad if necessary, but that: there was still a shortage of 5000 officers; ■ , , AUSTRALIAN FORCES. LESS MEN, AND MORE MONEY. • Melbourne, January 15. The totals cost to Australia of defence last year, exclusive of the naval subsidy, was-£882,000, . There were 22,644 men under arms. This' was 6425. less than in 1901, while the cost of administration was greater by £9542 than in tho lastrmentioaed year. : ' AN IMPERIAL GENERAL STAFF. V -V: SCHEME PROGRESSING. .' (Rec. January 17, 4.30 p.m.) London, January 16. Sir Frederick Borden,; Canadian Minister : for' Militia, after a series of .conferences with the Secretary'for War (Mr. Haldario) and with members or the Army Council and Major-General Hoad (of Australia), told an interviewer that there was.every prospect of realising tho, plan for an Imperial General, Staff,: which, had been.outlined at the Imperial Conference in 1907. There were certain difficulties relating to administration still unsettled, . but .tlio . scheme was progressing. The Army .Council was in possession of Canada's, and Australia's views, and was.striving to formulate a definite plan.

' THE'SCHEME AT THE CONFERENCE. If the Imperial Conference' in 1907 Mr. Haldane- and Sir Frederick Borden strongly supported the scheme for an Imperial General Staff, and the' Conference carried; the following resolution':t- '. i ' '" r 'i' : ■ •'That this Conference, welcomes and cordially approves the exposition of'general principles omoodied in: the statement of the Secretary of State -for War,- and,, without wishing, to com-, mit any .of. the Governments represented, irecognises and affirms the need of developing for the: service of. thoi Empire, a General Staff, selected from the forces .oE the Empire-as a' whole, which.shall study military science in all its branches, shall collect and disseminato to ■•:". the ' -various Governments militaryinformation and intelligence, shall undertake-■ the ..preparation -of ..schemes .: of defence on a .common principle without in the-least, interfering, in questions, connected with command and administration;' shall, at the request of tho respective Governments, ad-, vise as to the training, education,- and war. organisation, 'of tho military forces of: tho :Crown in'-'every part of the Empire.' , ( , . .:Great Britain, . Ifr. ; Haldane said, ; was organising a territorial army for Home defence,' and also' an'- expeditionary striking fprep'in 'the naval and military, arms of.the service, designed. to.assist, any part of-tho Empire.:. He laid stress on the.'.importance of .assimilatingthe. war organisation- throughout- the .Empire, and on the; adoption: of -'a,uniform system of nomenclature. Tho value of.colonial help to ■the: Mother Country wonld.be much increased if. the system in : the colonies readily fitted, into the war organisation of the Imperial army in 'the field., A highVy r slullod: general : staff alono was to "supply. i\: ( common conception.' - .'lt' was essential; that', the. 'small arms, and., ammu-, nition' shauld be. of tho. samp -pattern," and 'also'that adequate reserve's of : stores should benropared in time: of peace. It was desirable that, i the autonomous, colonies . should order.- their ordnance stores: through':the' War. Office. Adverting' to the,' training of'officers, Mr. Hali'dane said it was very, important. ; Great Britain,was trying ,'to create, a reserve of ..officers. If such reserve"-were Imperial,at would; give l : greafc additional.soenrity" to the Empire. The British general staff -would cordially interchange with colonial, staffs, thus, creating an "Imperial'school of military ..thought, imbued ; with;the same tradition&.iind accustomed to tho same strategical, problems. .