AUSTRALIA’S ARMY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16549, 13 May 1914, Page 9

AUSTRALIA’S ARMY.

SIR lAN HAMILTON’S REPORT. ; COMMENDABLE STATE OF EF- , FICIENCY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE, May 12. General Sir lan Hamilton’s report on the military forces is now in the hands; of the Minister of Defence. It is limited to a few main questions,' but deals exhaustively with these. As regards the army as a whole, the report says it is in a commendable state • of efficiency and able to take the field immediately. jTho report indicates, however, the» need for several changes in the admin-t istration. The finance systems should bp overhauled. ‘ : General Hamilton’s estimate as to r the future cost is far in excess of Lord • Kitchener’s estimate. *

SIR lAN HAMILTON IN AUSTRALIA.

OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES. ; (From Our Correspondent.] INVERCARGILL, May 12. An Australian pressman who hao-v met Sir lan Hamilton on several oc- * casions whilst he was in the Common- ", wealth, was in town to-day. He told . a “News” reporter that what struck.-, the General more than anything else' during his inspection .of the numerous ■ encampments was the masterful horsemanship of the Australians. Speaking of the light horsemen section, Sir lan said that they were brilliant riders, , and were a very soldierly type of men. The pressman went on to say that the liquor canteen had not had a fair trial in Australian camps. He asked the General if he favoured the canteen, and the reply indicated that the General was not in favour of intoxicants in camp. Sir lan said that generally dry canteens were permitted in Canada. He had seen in Australia one new feature, the shirkers’ detention camp. Prior to this he had lie.ard many stories as to the hardships of conscientious objectors in Australia and New, 1 Zealand, and he had commenced to feel, a kind of sympathy for those who suffered detention rather than sacrifice ■ their principles. He had expected tc" seo the open and ingenuous count e;" nance of the conscience objector, Inn " he found the reverse; there were non* that could be classed in that category The General, when visiting one of thi camps, was held up by an outpost. Hi - was endeavouring to pass through thr ' lines some miles from the main camp and the men on outpost duty adhere* . to their instructions to allow no on* through. “They declined to parley wit-t ■ liirn in any way, whatever, and prompt ly marched him, together with th» : members of his staff, a distance of i mile to the commanding officer of tin ■ outpost sections to make his expinna> “ tions. It was rather rough on Sir lan, but he took it in good part. y