DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 598, 28 August 1909, Page 12

DEFENCE NOTES.

(Br EcßbUk.) i

Some important figures, showing the probable cost of conscription, were recontly issued in a White i'aper, in pursuanco of a promise of Lord Lucas, tho Undcr-Sccrc-tary for War, to give an. official estimate of tli'o cost which would bo involved by tho scheme of training proposed by the National ] ycrvicc League. The memorandum points out that the leaguo lias proceeded on purely fttlllioiolls lines in making its ostltoates, aild goes'on to show tbat > tho actual cost would be'£12,970,000 per annum, made up as ' follow:— 'i £ ■' Administration. and annual , training . ... 6,600,000" ; Extra rooruit training . ... 6,000,000 Training Staff ... ... ... 3,000,000 •Special Iloservo ... 120,000 V 14,620,000 Less saving on pay ... ... : 1,050,000 ,'\ 12,970,000 Whentho ' normal cost of .tho Transvaal. I'oroe, £3,150,000, and the.Special Efeservo, £2,000,000, are deducted tha net increase on . the estimates would bo £7,820,000. •11l reply, the National Sorvico Leaguo published a memorandum| ■ stating that tJio esti- ! riiate bf Mid War Office has new 'dwindled, froin 20 millions, given bv Lord Crowo alid : Mr. Haldana.in Novcnitor last, to £ij,82t),000; Proceeding, it seeks to db- < mohstrate that tho War Ofliodj haVitlg still , failed to make itself acquainted with what the proposals of the leaguo really ate, has "in consequence; (doubtless unintentionally, seriously misrepresented these ' proposals. 1 ' After criticising various points made ty Lord LUc&s in tho White Pajier, tho league rojoliider concludes; - i "Lord Ludaa must not take his own figures and oUrS dud ml* them up to produco a largo rpsttlt. Wo afe ready t« start frism his basis of an a,verago of £10 a head far the (whole of the priseut TerHtorial'Airmy, or he can ,tako'our basis of £26 15s, for the five; hibiithi'' rccruit trtinlng, ttt-jnsive of staff, and add to it that of the staff. But ho: must not take his own. figure of £10, includes tho staff (as is Bhown by tbe fact thilt, in tho same caUmlatioh, the total c6st .tif the present TerHtoriil''Arm#,' of •300,00(1 men is put at, £3,160,000), and then, -' following our method/add' to it'a fediii 6f £3,000,000 for staff, already provided for— , a sum which alone equals the whole cost,of our prefeeht Territorial Army. We redlly niusfc take exception to this: When this < £5,000,000 is deducted from Lorn Local's tdtil, tho War Office estimate, which ,lesi . than 4 yeai- ago Was £20,000,000, and which lias &6ir fallen to less thab £8,000,000, tsomcs . dotni to £4,800,000.' And the estimate of,the league is £4,000,000. Is it ncoessanr to add niore?; Wo think not." .•

/ Ike fighting forco of- a. Bni&lr Army /tnfch its irfet'- \iM transport And ■iimbtilancesj cbvcrsi 10} ihllos of road, and 1 to tliiß. ntUSt be add£d Mother'is tfiiles for tho second lino transport and,''transport and supply parks, inakmg. ft. column 12J miles .; : - i '' {t is made up as foliocrt:—

,■ . • Other - ■ Officers. Kks. Hors. lead 9 nar ' OT ß ... ... •' ... iV "' 79 ,78 ,'hree mfaiitry, brigades '353' 12075 1 939 .wo M.i; CompaaioSl2 819*- 818 I.Q. Diviybbal Attillary ... ■ 4 20' .24 L'htea F;A. Brigades/..." ... ?5 2817 2877 )fa6 Hbwit£6r Brifeidt... „«• 18 533 SOi }n6 HtiavS ! Battbry and ' 1 • » . ; Amm, .Columii. v u ... 6 ■ 221 : 177 Dir. Amm. Coltinjn; „ ...20 2U9 1018 ff.Q. Engineers.... ; 1 11 10 Two Field EiE. 12 418146 Div. TO&gTapli Co. ... , M ' 2 •{§■: 41 DIV. ;T. aaa S: CdluMtt „ 22 451 445 Div.:.Ti: and S.<Piitfe 12 451- US Thrto l'jeld Aitiblilanccs .* 30 723 ' 4M

, i„y* J &J1 18362 7293 • ito 24 l ,toti6l)inp. I Mias,in,ilia columli arid 70 flold' ffiiriß,- bf wllioll. '4 til'ii th 6' big guns 0f... thd. Hchvy ! Brigadfel., '. -j. Of. Wagfias necfessaiy to. fcariV tad sUto]ibs;ftßd ;inatferial for this mlfiibof 6t {hen-and h6fibsj than ; 1045 • bio requirbd, of lvhiSli -Sit art sii-h&fsband' 369 ai&. fdlir-libriso faagilliS., To complete 1 l.Tio Liln 6f' rbCesß&fy for & division id tho Hold, the Transport and Supply Park requite 14 triitloil dnginofe, with 52 low-ton trucks. ' • \ 1

Tho following have, boen appointed ', as # committee,to administer tho liing'a Colonials under. tlio -Tetritorml' and RoServo Fortes Act. For ' tho, purposes of tiio.' ; Acfc.;tliey bo- < cbme a sulMsAaimittee of the County of London "Association Lord Stratlioona, ; fiicut.Colonel Sir A. Jligge, Sir Somerset French, Agent-General foi; Capo. Colony,. Colonel tho Jlorii EL A.< Lawrcnco,' 'late, commanding the Ck)lolii&B, \ ; Caijtaiii .R: M./.Cbllins, O.M.G:, i*epMs6jjt4we. <jf .the Conliiioilfaoaltb v df AilStriliii'ih'Lahdoß. tlio officer coihnianditig the Kiiig's ' ddlohiSlsj aiid ' Wio offioor sECbrid ih boMtaatid of the,Kiiig's Colohiatsi :} Tlio committeb will liavo to add i-6 tbfclr humtiei's ally officii) and prominent gehtJfcmcfa fconiiteted with the self-governing v dolbnios . and • the King's Dominions across tbh soai

I - Tho ftislcy • ltifle -Meeting, which formerly i occupied seven days,, has now/extended to '. . fourteen, and tho. sevon competitions to ICS, • Incumber that .increases overy year. Tho prizes havo now roacbod a total of t>s4sj of a valuo of £14,072 17s. .Id., which amount does ; not' iiicmdoi. Uio .value ■ of , : tie ' numerous - ohalloilgo clips. 1 vvliiJe. tho - : etjtrifes,,■ ■ which ... numbered 1314; tit. the first . meeting, liavo how reached iragi) tothl. of< 51j921 r , To coiitrol this great ,meeting, a range .staff of 90 officers . and , 020. non-commissioned and men': are .rcqiiirod, while nearly 500b''targets A. are .in/ ;usc. : ExcJuSifi' •. of revolver' aiid .hiihiatnre dminwiitiohf tho • amount of sefvico' rifio'aiiimuhitibri expbhdcd •; t'efihhed'. l&st .■ rear .'.to a.' total',', of.'. 604,800 rbuhdsr. Fbr the, purpose, of reportihg the lWt: meeting (1908) no; fower than .72 news- v pitperS aiid T?res6 atsonciea were represented, tfhlltJ tho pfess telegfabjS' dispatched hum- ■ •bercd 6G50. ' . ..; ; v;i • '■•

• "In. i860," Wid H.iR.H. tho Prince' of \Vales, sjieaking, at, the annual-dinlier .of the Nationil ltiflo Association recently,, "Tew men > ill ttiiß cduntfy woro' accustcinied to tho uso of tliii l'ille,. aiid the Swiss wero invited to . attend oUr: first 'meeting to sJiow us their • skill;: while ohly; 299. ot our riflemen com- , nctcd that year for t!}6 , Queen's r. Prize. 15ut the.'deiielotilneht of. shooting, uidor the nrbteetidii of this akociatlon was rapid,.and by 1878'hiOrd.tbaiV. 2200. afesenibled in annual comlietitiort. ! In' this 1 fcbdiitry and thfbiighodt tho EmpitO of tobn ffbro oiiCollragttl, to tako .up shootilig, and ■ soon breatdil it spirit of healthy riVnlty atfibng . thohifeelvoa. Unftirturihtfiiy. thA efrfitfßoufl has gfowh liji, thHt v tliS cbinpctitor at Bisley iltid iilsbwheh) inilitis ■ profit out or hit Skill-. A vot7.-limitod ntltnbor inay pferhaps ,do so, hut thfe oxronses of tlio vnst majonty . iirti certainly dbublo what they: tniiy win. Wq must ajl realise the immense changes that have taken placo in riflo shooting in tho'. past' few years; and how rmich more impbi'taht. thß riilb slibbtiilj; of. thh - Empire becomes yfehr by ychK.'ij feel euro tliat tho elideavour Of the association will always bo to cortihirioi ns far as pttssibloj tho reijtilrnmente of military shooting with tho sentihionts of tho large number of civilian rlljetfitat ivhd attend our riflo moling at HlsJoy.- 1 ' v