THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 15

THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE BILL.

EVERY CITIZEN LIABLE, TRAINING PROVISIONS, Tim South African Defoncc Bill lays down tho ptinciplo of the liability of every citizen to assist in tho defenoo of tho country. The scheme, which is modelled on tho Swiss proposes, however, only to train annually tho number of citizens reasonably required for (fcfencc. In an explanatory memorandum issued with tho text tho viow is expressod that tho framing of tho wliolo population for military purposes would create a greater forco than tbe country reasonably requires, and would impose upon it too heavy a financial burden. The Government will periodically fix the number of men required. 'i'ho training will last for four years, between tho ages of seventeen and tvronty-five, and will consist of as many day and niglit drills as may bo necessary, to fit recruits for the ranks, plus eight to fifteen days' continuous training annually. ' Riilo Aassociation training will be provided for the remainder of the citizens not undergoing military training. Tliess latteir, however, will also pay i!l yearly for twentyfour years. Tho Bill provides for compulsory cadet training whore it can bo carried out efficiently. • Coloured persons are entirely excluded from war service or poaco training iand from tho money contribution. The defence forces will bo divided aa follows Active Citizen Forco: (1) Permanent Force; (2) Coast and Garrison Force (these two forming tho first lino of dofence). Citizen Force Reserve forming tho seoond line. 1 National^Reserve, third line.; The Active Citizen Force will consist of citizens between tho nges of seventeen and twcn f y-fi. s, and it is estimated that for this purpose 20,000 to 25,000 rjen will bo sufficient, The Permanent Force will consist of (1) fivo regiments ol South African Mounted liiilcmen, totalling 2500, two to bo stationed in tho Cape, and ono in tacli of the other provinces. These wil' absorb tho exiting lljunted Polico and Cape Riflemen; they will carry out police duties, but will to trained Jor military purposes; and (2) a corps of officers ana non-com missioned officers to act as the instructional and administrative stall of tho Citizen Forces. A small number of couplet© units of Artillery will also be provided for. Tho Bill proposes to continue the plan now in force at Table Bay, Where the Cape Garrison Artillery supplements the men of the Royal Garrison Artillery, and also to exknd the system to l.'urban. The Cape Garrison Artillery will form the first division of the new corps to be called tho South African Garrkcn Artillerv. The Citizen. Reserves will consist of citizens between tho ages of twenty-one and forty-five, uiridsd into two classes: (1) thoso who have received military training, and (2) those who have only learned tho use of tho rif.e. .No compulsory training will be required of tho Citizen Reserves. Tho National Reserve, which will only be cnllod out in the gravest emergency, comprises all citizens of ages from seventeen to sixty. The Bill also provides for a Naval Volunteer Roserve, though an accompanying memorandum points out that tho Bill doos not seek to create a local Navy in any shape or loim. The existing Militia and Volunteer Forces ■ will bo embodied in the Activo Citizen Force, but provision will bo made for the different corps to retain their identity, Tho Bill provides for the establishment of a military college, but does not propose in the initial r.tnges to embark upon an elaborate institution on tho lines adopted elsewhere. The nucleus will be formed by one or more centralised schools providing special courses for officers. The Bill introduces tho ballot if the Active Citizen Force should ,irivo uiacV'.nuata. The Permanent Forco is liable to service within rr beyond the borders of the Union and the entire Citizen Force is liable to war service in any part of South Africa. It is estimated that the scheme will cost the Union an extra .£300,000 a year, taking into account tho present expenditure on defenoo and police. Tho Bill also provides that nil ranks shall bo instructed in the 'trivini? and receiving of tho executive words of command both in English and Dutch, and that military instruction and training shall bo given in the languago best understood by tho person instructed.—Router.