EMPIRE DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 13

EMPIRE DEFENCE

A MILITARY OPINION AUSTRALIA’S POSITION Grave statements arc made hy feir Harry Clmirvol in the annual report of the Commonwealth. Inspector-general of Military Forces, which was made available this month (states the Melbourne ‘Argus’).. For several years the report of the Inspector-gcocml has cnrccted attention to the tact that inadequate financial provision: is made do,ah low even a restricted programme of military defence to be carried out. Sir Harry Chauvel sums up the position today as follows:—“The activities or the army are now restricted to less than-the bare essentials of maintenance and training. The time has passed when expenditure can be cut in one direction to permit of progress in another. The lack of provision for the increasing costs of our existing organisation and the consistent reduction in the annual vote render it impossible to carry out the approved programme.” Sir Harry Chauvel says: “The naval defence and economic life of the country are dependent upon the strength, disposition, and mobility of the whole of the naval forces of the Empire. They, however, do not exist for the defence of Australia and her trade alone, and it must be recognised that circumstances may well arise which may prevent these forces from being utilised at a critical period for Australia in adequate strength in waters bordering on Australia, and on the routes followed by Australian trade, more especially as the defence of the‘British isles and of the sea routes leading thereto is, and rightly' so, the first object of Imperial naval strategy. Therefore it is incumbent upon Australia to provide effectively for its own local _ security. Indeed, it is an accepted principle of Imperial defence policy that each dominion is primarily responsible lor its own local defences. Under these conditions the principal instruments of the local security of Australia .must necessarily bo the Army and the Air Force. The maintenance of the military organisation of Jive divisions and two cavalry divisions, with the essential non-divi-sional troops and auxiliary services, the adequate provision of all their requirements in modern equipment and material. and the training of that organisation so as to ensure a reasonable standard of efficiency are vital dements in the problem of the defence of Australia. Owing to circumstances beyond the control of the Military Board, the organisation is at present in nucleus form only. This nucleus docs not yet possess the equipment nor receive the training which are essential to the effective performance of its functions. 1 feel it necessary to reiterate this point, which has been referred to so frequently in my previous reports, because it must be made clear that tin present restricted policy in regard to the development of the army, however well it may be executed in detail, cannot be expected to achieve in adequate measure the only logical end in view—namely, the effectiveness of the army as a modern instrument of defence. The present nucleus lias been found to be insufficient for the accomplishment of the approved policy for the army, and I am convinced that an increase in the numbers is essential. Despite the_ fact that the population of Australia is 6,122,700, the number under training in the citizen force of. Australia is only 42,000; training takes place in three years only of a citizen’s life, and for only 12 days in each year. Moreover, the supply of certain vital equipment is negligible when compared with tbo ultimate requirements for war and lor the replacement of wastage. It is for these reasons that 1 am compelled year after year to direct attention to the peed for natural and reasonable development in our land defence policy.” SHORTAGE OF LEADERS.

After pointing out that tbc supply of former members of the Australian Imperial Force as officers of Australia’s defensive forces is becoming exhausted, Sir Harry Chauvel says: “Signs are not Jacking that the organisation may fail iu its object of producing its own loaders. There is already a shortage of non-commissioned'officers and junior leaders. Although training is compulsory, reliance must necessarily bo placed upon voluntary effort in regard, to the undertaking of the responsibilities of leadership, and men with the necessary personality and education are not coming forward for this purpose 'in sufficient numbers. The service offers few attractions, and those who undertake the extra responsibility of commissioned and non-commissioned rank arc actuated mainly by a high sense of public duty. There is urgent need to improve the conditions of service for the officers and non-commissioned officers in' older to induce good men to volunteer in sufficient numbers.”

Tho position with regard to the progress of the limited munition developmental programme is .far from satisfactory. The annual amounts which have been available lor it-have been far short of the sums that were intended when tho programme was initiated. The military organisation is confronted with constantly increasing costs which are entirely outside the control of tho Military Board. This factor necessarily demands a correspondingly automatic increase in tiie annual amount voted by Parliament in order to obtain the same relative efficiency. No such requisite increase, however, has beeimmado, but, on the contrary, tho organisation has had to cope with progressive annual reductions. Sir Harry Chauvcl thinks that, in consideration- of the funds provided, satisfactory' progress has been made. Essentials for future development are laid down as follow:—“Tho expansion of the nucleus organisation to the minimum required for the training of leaders in sufficient numbers to meet the initial requirements of the Army on mobilisationto provide new units tho incorporation of which in a modern army is recognised as a necessity; and to finable essential administrative services to bo established on a sound footing. Additional provision for tins training of senior officers and stall’s. The developmental munitions programme to be placed on a definite footing, which will enable a reasonable rate of progress to bo maintained. The rearmament of the const defences.” CITIZEN FOIICES. The report deals in detail with the ■work for the year of the Citizen Forces, and numerous recommendations dealing with various phases of the training are made. . It is held that tho Citizen Forces as a whole : have worked faithfully and well, and tho training lias made progress. The time and resources at present available, however, arc sufficient only for a small amount of individual training and of collective training of sub-units, In no.ea.se have regiments, artillery brigades, or battalions yet reached a standard that will enable them to undertake training as such. The consequence of this is that tho senior officers and their stall's can receive no training in the actual handling of troops in the field. The. training of senior officers’ is only possible at present by means of exercises conducted without troops, and is being done by divisional and brigade exercises. These aro being held more frecpiently, but a'uv great expansion ,of this form of training is not feasible, as the greater narfc of tho. funds available for schools courses, and divisional, brigade, and regimental exercises, etc., is necessarily, devoted to the curly training of young officers and non-commissioned officers. The efficiency of the permanent forces and services, has been maintained at the pitch compatible with present financial appropriations ’(says the report!. Tho low percentage of full qualification in examinations for- certificates of education is considered unsatisfactory. No system of general oduen-

tion, such as exists within the British Army, exists for the benefit of the permanent forces in Australia. It is urged that this question should bo considered in detail. * Training and administration of Senior Cadets have, been carried out on the same lilies as for the previous year. The report says that the percentage of attendance at parades of those who have registered for training has been been well maintained, but it is felt that the present machinery for ensuring registration and tracing missing trainees is inadequate, and .that consequently large numbers that should be mainlining are evading their responsibility. On the introduction of the policy of only one year of training.for the Senior Cqdcts, it vas decided; that the appointment of non-commissioned officers was not necessary, but _it Ims been found difficult to train without section leaders, and ac;ting_ non-commissioned officers will be appointed in future.