INSTRUCTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 762, 10 March 1910, Page 8

INSTRUCTION.

64. The •instruction of a citizen officer will be in the first instanca.afforded to him at or near:his home bj .the-instruc-tional officer, who will ■ take' special care that the officers of his unit ire thoroughly taught in all. the regimental work of the unit,to which they beljmg.-.- In. addition, to this ■instruction, special courses for technical,subjects; should be arranged by-the district staffs,, and tlie proficiency attained by the officer going;through any of these courses be specially:noted : in his favour. Moreover, as these! officers will doubtless have their eveniigs free for study,, an excellent means ifo'r bringing the'whole force together . anil of giving instruction in-military subjects would be the free circulation of a military, magazine, which should be.edited;by and published under, the direction bf the headquarters .staff. " TKe • same agency should undertake a system of ■ oorrespondence which has proved to be of-value in India, whereby "answers, are given to questions oh military subjects, pipers are set, duly corrected and retuinejl, strategical aid tactical ■ problems are .explained,.- discussed, and corrected. ..'-.;,'.

65. During the training feriod. of his arm, IS or 24 days, as the ;case.may be, the citizen officer should receive, good emoluments,. and I advise that the pay of a subaltern for this perfod should bo increased to £1 per diem, tlie other ranks being raised in proportion. jThe rates for each rank would then, be—] ■ : is:d. -.- Subaltern ' ' \ 1 0 0. Captain .._.: ±. 110 0 ■ Major .... __!.. 2 00 laeutenant-Colonel .__;.. 210 0 . Colonel ....: ..,._....i.. 30 0 ..66, No pay should.be ajowed for attendance at schools of instruction, but bonuses sufficient to cover expenses should be granted to those. officers .'who . pass through the. courses satisfactorily and attain the standard of qualification.

THE CITIZEN SOLDIER. 67. The Australian citizsn soldier experiences ; mnch of militarj , value in the everyday conditions of hlsjcivil life. He is generally a good rider atiive, lithe, and intelligent. .Aβ. a cadet Iβ is taught to shoot, and learns the rudiments of drill and, passing; through W recruit adult training, he joins the forci as an efficient soldier. Much' will undoubtedly depend on the amount of training that, through self-denial and devotion o his duty, the citizen soldier performs it or. near Ids home, and, if this is donel in my opinion he will be able to-subsequently maintain his efficiency as a soldier, linder the training that has been proposal in this paper. 68. Throughout .the period, of ■ service the citizen soldier must! remember that he. is discharging a dutjj, to his country and..that the pay .he receives; is ,not a wage, but, an allowance to assist him in the discharge of, his duty. I. therefore think that the rates of fay laid down in the Act are-adequate, and. j»s >ndar my i

proposals, tnrinine will continue after the twentieth year;. f consider tlia-fc the pay of a soldier in'all subsequent years should be at the rate laid down for the 19-20 year, namely, , 4s per diem. THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGAN-ISATION-OF UNITS. 71. The' establishments of the. regular army, have' hitherto been the standard for Australia,, and this principle.should be observed in the formation of the Citi[zen Forces. , ~.'. , ■ : ■ 72 In its application, however, local conditions' may require slight variations. For instance, bandsmen are not necessary for. a Citizen Force,drummersandbuglers : will supply all that is necessary; the dfrr tails left at the base need not be so many:;:;, .■[■■■ '-'; ■.-.■■;.-..■. ■ ' — : ■ . . ■ ~. BATTALiON OF INFANTRY. 73. I'should,-therefore, recommend that the combatant' war establishment of a battalion of.,citizen infantry be-fixed at 29 officers and 1,001 other ranks, organised as follows:— . .... TABLE V.-ESTABLISHMENT OF A , BATTALION OF INFANTRY ' "'■ 4J oi "™ ' '*& ■ -■— ■"■'■■■ ::J § § Jills - , ■ ■, ' ■•/. - ; v-;p. P.. ...«-'P5.'.Headquarters ...' . 4 9 . ..-.— .' 18 it. .G; Section ... '.1-. 1. . — .15 8 Companies ... 24 40 -16 880 Detailsto beleft '. ; ■■• .. ■,••. in areas .—.:. '—„' . 4 . ... — -.', 18 -~ .'-. '.- '29.' 54 ' 16 931 , ■' . '..;' . ; 1,001 ...•;' 74. In working out the details it must be. remembered tha,t in 'the .ranks will be found ; tradesmen- .of. all kinds,' such as shoemakers, -tailors, and pioneers. •,. ■ 75 The establishment! of:' 29 "officers should, be maintained in peace and'war; that of-the other ranks will vary-as folJows:—. .-. ... ~;... ~ ..-.■: Peace.establishment ....!._„...;.... 750 ■ Kecriiits .. ; ..........".!._.... ~..:■ 143 ■ ■25-26-year trainedi men ......'.....■.... 108 ' War establishment ............ 1,001 .1 REGIMENT OF LIGHT HORSE. 76. Similarly a,regiment of light horse would.be organised in:— .' .■•'■■ TABLE V.-ESTABLiSHMENT OF 'A ... REGIMENT OF.; LIGHT/HO'RSE, ~ &&■sss £■ Headquarters.... 4 12 ; — ■ "is M.G. Section'...' : 1 1 ■ ■ '— -. H 4 Squadrons- , '...";24 . 60 ■ '8 '356 Left in areas, ... — ~;-3. ;■— ~'4, ".'. [\-.,-: ; : >29. ;,.:«■; 8. ;386' "' : ' !■ . ' '■■'•:■ ': ' -470 '■' Trhich^should , be!reached : as fdllows: '- Peace establishment "350' Eeoruits : ......,...■;...............„...,.■ 70 ', 25-26-year men ...™.;.._»..■. 50 ■ ' 1 War. establishment I „...;... ,470 BATTERY OF ARTILLERV. v 7 7/ battery .would, of course,-vary' slightly with,the. nature; of the gun; but for the; four-gun 18-pr. battery the'present war •.'establishment-'Of.,5; officers and- 146 other, -ranks' : seems'-suitable. • .' ■■ : . ■ .The' battery'.would, then reach its war strength \as-follows:— ' . ~.. ■ ' •■Peace;establishment :, ........,.. iM , 130 : ' Recruits'-........uv.. .„.. 16 t '• „' ■'■' ; ■'•' -'" ' "■'■' ' I® ■ leaving 10 recruits and 18 2526-year -men per battery (i.e., a total of 1568) to form the nucleus'of: ammunition columns. -.':"'":•■''■"■ TRAINING.- ''■ ■■•■"'' 1 78. The training of the citizen-soldier may. be divided. into ■ two parts—the home training,- which ..will: take -place* all--the-year round in the vicinity 6f the .men's homes under the Staff Corps, or the citi- : zen officers of the , area; and the camp training, which •will be annually'.held in the neighbourhood, and'will'generally consist of a brigade of-infantry, with a proportion ..of other arms. In order to sustain the'interest of the force, the instruction . given should be of a progressive nature::-.T-hWsoldier should annuallybe taught- the-proper 'practical meth-' ods' of carrying out some new, exercise, as well :as'being-tested in'- what he'has' learnt before.,.. Thus a : fresh . exercise would be studied.every year in' the-area, and practically tested ~ at the camp. When .this has been done,, the exercise to be. studied, during the,next !year should be. initiated "and .explained. .• .-■-.;.,■•

'13. This ...method .of.,training- natnraliy necessitates, a- systematised arrangement by which each soldier is gradually taught on the ground... how' to carry out all the duties'of; his ana.' . ■:' •' " . •;,- '":.'•

80. For the, battalion and .regimental training, the-assembly of. the quotas from two or. three areas becomes'necessary, "and this home-training can be'done "at* weekends. .In ordinary years'' there' , " will -be' no necessity to-.go beyond brigade , training, ~which requires the assembly of quotas/from ten- areas. ■ The 'selection of the time and place for these annual cumps .will-, be the'work of the brigade major, who should consult;the convenience'of employers and of the. men! ■'. ". '■ .

81. Every year, three or more brigades should be selected - for concentration, so as to. practise commanders; staffs,'and railways 'in'dealing 1 with large bodies' of troops. These concentrations should be specially arranged for by the Government on the advice of the Military Board.

_ 82., Training should consist of all .that is essential to good inarching, .accurate controlled •■■ shooting,-and the combination of all arms' in ..attack and defence.

: S3. Throughout, the principles contained in the." manuals of.' , the regular -army, should, he" followed,--but they must be applied . intelligence, and with due regard; to the' local-conditions of personnel, .ground,. ' and : composition • of- the force. Land-will be'required to properly and. satisfactorily carry out -this work, and in the selectioniof-its site two oftenconflicting .condition's must be ' reconciled 7-one that. it.-, should -bo olose to .cittes in order, 'thjit- .and brigades will lose no-time.on thft.road, and.the other that it ahbnld-.be"large;; enough, for manoeuvres. The- , Act .gives power to manoeuvre, over.i,country at will, but where central large .trajning-grounds can be es-' tablished-in-each State, there are many advantages in now.-'doing . so before the population ■ thickens'",'and all ground is taken up. Such localities would bo used for the: annual trainings,, and,. where possible, might be made available for the breeding- ;of■ Jartillery horses/ ■ ': ■ "■: MOBILISATION. thpught-oot and practical plans! for mobilisation and .concentration are required before the- citizen force can be considered prepared for war. 85. Preparation for mobilisation is primarily. the'work of,-the general staff,who recommend the lines" to-be followed,.and advise where, and in what'quantities, the munitions "of .war of the various units should be stored. -. Concentration can only be satisfactorily effected when the railway and military authorities - are .in the closest touch and work in absolute harmony. To secure • this co-operation, I advise that a. War Railway. Council be formed, as is the case in tho XJnited Kingdom, composed of.the Chief Railway Commissioner from each State,- under the presidency of the ';.QuartermasterGeneral of the Citizen Forces, and with an officer of the Staff as secretary. ' ~ , DISTRICT STAFFS. . 86. It only, remains to consider the staff organisation suitable to administer control, and-inspect the Citizen Force. 87. The organisation., of military. districts with their commandants and staffs should; continue; but district commandants should be made to decide all questions which are, within their, powers'. .In-, no other way. can'decentralisation be. efficiently carried . out, and it ie preferable to run the risk, of an occasional mistake rather than, to encourage, unnecessary dependence on : headquarters. . ' :,

'HEADQUAETEBS STAJT.V "■ ' 85. Accepting the military board- ras-', tem as I find it in Australia, I consider that its work requires careful • allotment, as no.subject,mother..than a matter of military policy,; should be laid before the board if solely in the department of one' member who has power to deal with it. jtt should .seldom be necessary to refer such questions as..details ..of- .dress,, saluting : stations, loans of- camp equipment, sick leave, dates,of rifle matches, forms to. be used for; requisition, claims covered by' regulation, etc., to the board. Themilf' tary members of the- board shbtild re- ■ member tiiat on their advice on'military? subjects the: administration. of -the forces greatly, depends, and should, therefore, . give ' their. opinions. on. strictly. military'. grounds, avoiding all political influences',"' and be" prepared'to'-maintain their view ' under all : circumstances.' They will thus, . by .their carefully considered ,advice, af- ■ ford great'assistance to the: Minister for Defence." ' .•". ■ " -. ...'. 89. Consultative . members- should not, in my opinion,, be added'to the board. DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTOR- • GENERAL. . 90; The recommendations contained; in this part of my paper, and based on <&e Defence Actof 1909, mil require constant supervision- to get the best-. _ 91. Factories of war. material are pnv jected, contracts for harness,- clothing,etc., will be placed locally, and independent inspection of their methods and pro- • ducts will be.essential to good and ecoa*. / mical administration. -.■■■"• 92. these,reasons I recomnend that the appointment of inspector-general be continued, and .that..he. lie supplied with a staff, adequate, to carry dut - the 'duties of ,the Department;' and that 'he"should ' be,directly under the Minister//\; ■ ' •■ .... 93. The duties of the department would : be-r , ■.; -. , ;.; . ■ ; (a) The .examination .of "the state, of ■>■ preparedness for war .of the Citi- ' . zeh Force. ' (b) The inspection of camps." ".' , '. (c) The examination of the results at- ', . . tained by-the systems of'.classifi- ■■■: : cation, enrolment, .registration, , ■organisation, and training of the .; \: cadets, the permanent and citizen . forces and their transport..,,, ' _'. • (d) The. periodical, examination of explosives', guns/ and- all' warlike " . stores on.■ Commonwealth charge, -.-. . and the inspeotion. of all-factories ■> and contract supplies. - . .'■ .' . (e) Buchj further inquiries as the •■" ;: Minister might direct. . - ■ ' 94. Under . the ■.conditions' which ".exist in Australia it;;would ap_pear -to me advisable -that the./inspector-feerieral should "' be appointed-president'of the board dealing with' the promotion of -officers above: ■" the rank/of major, and should advise on the '..qualifications; of-field. officers for ap», ' pointment to -the- command ■ of. battalions regiments,-brigades, ■•and districts.-,... ~• . 95; ■It' would ; seem sufficient 'to ■ provide at first for— -:. ; '•■-./■' ' : v. ■■ ~■ . (a). One inspector-general who, .with an assistant- would be- responsible -fpr-the-department-and for the : inspection of the.state of prepira\tdon for war, the troops, and svb- : . terns. ■ . ."■.■• '.:.: '■■•■' (b) One. inspector : of warlike stores, : ' factories, and contracts. (c) Such-clerical staff as is required. ESTIMATED MILITARY BUDGET. 96. However suitable., these '.recommendations may be !to the requirements of the... country, ; - a'., great,: deal- must depend on the. burden "which they, will impose, upon, its financial resources. I ■ have, ; therefore,, calculated what /the. -annuals cost of the CitizenForce : would be.when' all; the 'proposajs- have reached ■ fruition ■ and-would' be/in full-' working! order. Naturally, during the transition period ■ the cost of the force would be less than this, forecast, but it, must be. remembered : that, a'. considerable . amount- of. non-recurring .expenditure in ;the shape of giins and munitions of war should be. obtained; during his transition period,! the upkeep of: which has been fully al.lowed for in my.estimate. " ] b r Jtfin. f !iTr.'\ : ,r '("''. vi- .- ■■' .-^/ THE STAFF CORPS. '. 97. Tke;:StaffiCorps,,' composed of .358' officers at the rates of pay that I have suggested,, amounts tp a total annual cost > ,of , There will..be, in' addition,. -the. cost of' the' permanent services,', and the. 400 .warrant-officers.and non-commis-sioned officers 'required' in. : , the areas.. These nnder the new. rates will ; amount to £234,000, making a total. p£ ; £376,000.'