AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1906, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

ADVERSE CRITICISM BY GENERAL FRENCH. [by ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.] .[TEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] SYDNEY, This Day. Major-General French, who is returning to England after his visit here in the course of an interview referred to the intention of the Federal Government to succeed Major-General Finn when that officer's term expires with a colonial officer, said that in his opinion no Australian was lit for the position. It would bo a political appointment, and ho supposed that some South Australian “waster” would get it. The position was one of the greatest importance. So far as tlio defence of Australia was concerned, no one man could fulfil the duties which tiio present Inspector-General was called upon to perform. The outlook in defence matters, lie said, was very bad, and this he attributed to the ruthless cutting down of General Hutton’s estimates. Tho present Military Board was a farce. Ho considered that the Federal Government should take immediate steps to establish a military college, one similar to the Canadian military college.