THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 827, 27 May 1910, Page 8

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

IMPORTANT CHANCES PENDINC. COMMANDANT TO BE APPOINTED. Some important changes with regard to tho control of the New Zealand defence forces are pending. As forecasted on previous occasions in the columns of Tin: Dominion, and definitely announced by the Prime Minister in his speech at Hokitika on Wednesday evening, a commandant is to .be appointed to take full control of the forces. This officer is to be recommended by Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, and will have tho assistance of the Nov.- Zealand General Staff as at present organised. The system of control is not to be a dual one. Tho commandant of the forces will bo entirely responsible for the- general supervision and efficient condition of the forces, and in order that he may be freed from unnecessary administrative routine, various matters connected with organisation, examinations of officers, military education, operations, and so on, will fall within the sphere of duties to be carried out by tho New Zealand General Staff, under its present chief (Colonel Robin). The present arrangement—administration by a Council of Defence —has serious disadvantages. It did not meet with tho approval of Lord Kitchener, for one ■thing, and although a similar system of control at present obtains at Home, it is generally predicted that if Lord Kitchener is summoned to the War Office to take charge of affairs, one of his first administrative acts will be tho abolition or the British Army Council. He will still require; as our "new commandant will require in New Zealand, a general administration staff, under a chief of staff. Provision was made in the Defence Act of last year for the appointment of a commandant, but the schedule of duties denned to that officer was struck out when the Bill was before the House. The new commandant will bo an Imperial officer of high rank, appointed from the Imperial General Staff. Tho appointment of a Commander of the Forces raises the question of the future policy to be adopted with regard to the position of InspectorGeneral of the Forces, provided for under the Act of last session. Obviously, the work of an Imperial staff officer of high rank could hardly be reported upon by an officer of inferior rank. The office is to be continued in Australia, but whether it will be continued in .New Zealand is another' matter, to be explained later. WELLINGTON DISTRICT COMMAND. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BAUCHOP ORDERED TO ENGLAND. One of the surprises of the week is the announcement —as yet unofficial— that Lieutenant-Colonel A. Bauchop C.M.G. (Officer Commanding tho Wellington District), has been instructed to make arrangements to leave for England for a course of training at the Staff College, Camberley. During his absence, the affairs of the district will be administered by Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor, of the Headquarters Staff, who is at present carrying out, temporarily,' the duties of Director of Military Education. One of tho privileges at present accorded to New Zealand'officers is that they aro permitted to enter the Staff College without previous examination. This privilege will gradually be withdrawn as the defenco system develops, and our senior staffofficers are able to qualify for the entrance examination, and so be placed in a better position to proceed through the Camberley course on even terms with other officers. Competition for entrance to the. Staff College is very keen indeed, and the privilege conferred upon colonial officers is no small one. PEACE AND WAR ESTABLISHMENTS, The New Zealand Territorial Army ia established on a peace footing, while the British Territorial Army is ' established on a war tooting. Notwithstanding the latter fact, however, the British Territorial Army is something like 60,000 short of its establishment, and is compelled to rely wholly upon voluntary enlistments tn make up this shortage, since the principle of compulsion has not yet teen adopted. The New Zealand Territorial Army, established on a peace footing, is in in altogether different position. Taking the infantry battalions, there is a difference of 296 between the peace and war establishments. But tIiDSB .296 aro all privates, and can be added to the strength by a stroke of the pen detaining in the Territorial Force the men of between the 25th and 20th year. Thus the raising of the establishment of a battalion, under the compulsory system, to its war strength is a simple matter. Under the peace establishment an infantry battalion has its full strength of non-commissioned and commissioned officers. The maintaining of a particular battalion on its peace footing in preference to its war footing, therefore, makes for efficiency in training, as a smaller number will require attention. The raising of the battalion to its war strength will mean the addition of 206 trained men in the ranks. NEWS AND NOTES. Captain S. V. Trask, hon. secretary, of the Wellington Garrison Officers' Club, liaa received the following acknowledgment of the. garrison officers' resolution of sympathy with the tloyal Family in its bereavement:—"l am directed by his Excellency the Governor to thank you for your letter of May 21, concerning the death of his late Majesty, which will bo transmitted to England in due course." The annual social of the Wellington Highland Eifles, held at the Garrison Hall on Wednesday evening, was a most successful function. Captain M'Diarmid, officer commanding the corps, presided, and there were also present Chaplain-Major Shirer, the subaltern officers of the corps, and other guests. There wero no toast speeches, the evening being devoted to music and recitations. During an interval in tho proceedings tho pnV.es awarded to the successful competitors in the Saturday afternoon rifle matches at Trentham last season were presented by Chaplain-Major Sliiror. The list of prizewinners has already been published in The Dominion. The annual smoke-concert of the Wellington Field Engineer corps was held at Murdock's; Cuba Street', last evening, the function being a largelyattended and very successful one Captain Gibbs, officer commanding tho corps presided, and among the visitors were Captain J. E. Duigan, Staff Instructor for Engineer Services, and Mr. A. W. Newton; The usual toast speeches were made, and a number of songs, recitations, and musical selections given. During the evening, Captain Gibbs presented Quarter-Master-Sergeaiit Piercy with the 20-years' service medal. The prizes awarded to the siiccessful competitors in the company riflo matches last season were also distributed.