MR. HALDANE'S ORGANISATION SCHEME.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 96, 25 April 1907, Page 5

MR. HALDANE'S ORGANISATION SCHEME.

AN IMPERIAL GENERAL STAFF

PROPOSED RESERVE OF OFFICERS.

OPINION OF THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

[press association.^ {Received March.24, 9.30 p.m.)

LONDON, April 24

Mr Haitian© (Secretary of State for War), addressing the Imperial Conference, urged the'desirability of th« •organisation of the1 military forces of the Empire upon a. broad, not rigid, -pattern for common purposes. He suggested that the newly-created general staff should be given an Im--1 pefial character, and be at the disposition of all local Governments or Com-naanders-in-Chief, furnishing advice

and supplying intelligence of an •expert description. He did not desire that .the formation of such a staff should in the slightest degree suggest that the -autonomous Colonies must accept any direction from Home in military matters, but trained advice would'be at their disposal. Mr Haldane furnished the Conference with papers dealing with the -strategical conditions of the Empire from a military standpoint, emphasis-1 'ing three .great principles: (1) The • obligation of the self-governing Colonies to provide their own local security; (2) the duty of arranging for mutual assistance in case of supreme 'common need; (3) the necessity of maintaining our • sea supremacy. Britain s fhe said, was organising a territorial army for home'defence, also an .expeditionary striking force of naval

and,military, designed to assist any ipart of"the (Empire. He emphasised

the importance of assimilating the war 'organisation throughout the Empire, rand the adoption of a uniform system •6f nomenclature. The value of colonial help to the Motherland would he

much increased if their system readily

fitted into the war organisation of the 'Imperial Army in the field. A highly- • skilled general staff alone would supply

a common conception of essentials

Small-arms and ammunition should be ■of the same pattern, and adequate reserve stores should also1 be prepared in

time of peace. It was desirable that

.the autonomous Colonies should obtain .ordnance stores through the War Office.

The training' of officers, continued*' .'Mr Haldane, was very important. ■Britain was trying to create a reserve ■of officers. If such a - reserve were made Imperial it would ■be a great .additional security to the Empire. The 'British general staff would cordi.ally interchange with Colonial staffs, creating ah Imperial school of military thought, imbued with the iSame' traditions and accustomed to the :same strategical problems.

Repaying to Sir F. W. Bowen, .Canadian ■■Minister. for [Defence, Mr Haldane .said that ithe .general staff would not 'be an in./dependeht authority. exercising-'control Jthroughojit the Empire, :bUt a-train-iing-school,.which would lend experts to Uocal general staffs and renSeiw assist-* ;ance from colonial general-staffs. He 'hoped the jSolonies w<mld tsencl .•. exIP&rts :to confer with the generalxstaffy an <order.immediately to begin :.exeeutiing the broadvprinciple wMeh'ihisVxeso- '* Eutioh affirnjecL

A! .FAVOURABLE RECEPiION

;Sir.F..W: Borden'viewed fch©iS£heme

ifoctsourably.

'. Mr Deakin .■complimented ":Mx jEEal<daae.on bis luminous exposition. JHe jstEongly urged" .the publishing <.of 'ish.<e>speech in its entirety. He ree£igxsm3<li Mr Haldane's jiesire not to inifeoa^e! • ifeejpowers of theeqlonial Governments! aaosd ikejjisJLatures. The general statf! aaeantiOnly the offer of expert, niatfcure; adsrice. He believ.qd that any j>rp-| posal jbo ; extend th.c operations of the; general .staff which permitted tfhei -Cdteme^to participate would be heart- | iiy welcomed in Australia. He fsally! accepted i)he principle of interchange-! ability of weapons. ; He approved the; principle-of interchange of units, bsaij doubted its.practicability for Austr«~! lia owing to :the great distance sind the • smalliiess of the permanent forceAustralia desired an expended inter- i change oif especially of higher | standing than ihose hiifoerto sent, j The relative rank of officers in the I outer and inner parts of ttie Empire required ©onsiderjction. Australia was i envious of Canada's progress in military schools.. Australia felt ti^e weakness of her system -of officers. Owing tbo local conditions, would be very .difficult to maintain & sufficient -jregUT Sar supply of entrants to local military weolleges. Mt Deakin aiot:iced that -£x■pextin advised the colonial 'Government's &> arrange for ths> local manufactuj^a <pf w,a,r material and. stores rather thas irely ©n the United Kingdom's resources. He hoped the Admiralty would encourage colonial ammunition factories hy using their products. Australia was driven to purchase supplies from private firms because she was unable to rely on the" War Office, He thought the Colonies ought to b© able to rely on securing the fulfilment of a reasonable proportion of their hopes. Sir Joseph Ward supported . the voluntary co-operation of the colonial Governments, and the general staff. #c hoped it would be possible to secure a stronger and better system of general Imperial defence." It was a high ideal to try to assimilate "the Empire's war organisation. He agreed to obtain war stores and ammunition generally through the Wai- Office, if it

■ CABLE :, tWS, i,3»T JJI3SCTRIC TELEGRAPH. — VOF X KIGHT,

were understood that the Colonies had the right to make ammunition if they were able. He recognised the importance of using the same kind of arms and ammunition. He believed that New Zealand would arrange an inter-; change of units and officers. If a Volunteer company came to England for purposes of interchange, the New Zealand Government would probably { |be willing to pay a reasonable sum. New Zealand was always willing that her Volunteers should assist the Motherland in the event of Voj:>.-i-s arising, both in men and in money, and was ready to do her share of defence in any part of the world; but she wanted to keep clear of the possibility of being drawn into Continental troubles. uWe want a distinct line of demarcation between responsibility we accept of our own free will and responsibility that may be placed upon us without our having an opjportunity of conference or discussion." Thousands were ready to volunteer to fight oversea. Mr Botha thought that the position of the Transvaal would be hazardous if the Imperial troops were withdrawn. Lord Tweedmouth (first Lord of the Admiralty) explained the general principles influencing the Admiralty in the defence of the Empire, especially insisting on the necessity for unity of control of the fleet.