MILITARY COMMAND IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11582, 21 February 1901, Page 3

MILITARY COMMAND IN NEW ZEALAND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As the time is approaching when it is possible we may be deprived of the services of Colonel Pole-Penton, the popular commandant of the forces in this colony, it may not be out of place, in view of some opinions already expressed, to consider the qualifications of a successor, who should be as worthy of the position, viewed upon a broad basis, from an impartial military standpoint. The war in South Africa has been productive of the development in not a few instances to this colony of latent military genius. That, some of our officers have conspicuously distinguished themselves is a matter beyond dispute, whereby they have established a reputation as men of capacity in what may be regarded to a great extent as warfare under modern conditions. But this in itself is only one of the merits comprising a standard of efficiency, to warrant, as has been suggested, an appointment from that ' source to the supreme military command in New Zealand. _ Much of this success may be attributable in instances to the fact of their having been subject to the direction of skilled modern tacticians, from whoso fertility of resources the initiative may have been inspired. The qualifications requisite for the commander of the forces embrace a comprehensive scope of modern scientific military attainments, hiving an application to all branches of the land service, and, not the least of all, to artillery, to which may be added capacity for departmental administration. And without in any way being desirous of writing disparagingly of our colonial officers, who have given such proofs of their claims to distinctionall honour to theml feel fully convinced that to fill this position satisfactorily it will be necessary, as hitherto, to apply to the War Office authorities, with whom it is quite as advisable that our commandant should be in touch, as that the Governor of the colony should be so with the Secretary of State. Depend upon it, the administration of the military establishment will not continue a-s efficiently maintained unless the supreme control is vested in an officer whose competency may fulfil the conditions which I have endeavoured to outline. A capacity to ensure a system of perfect organisation in the various military branches is not to bo acquired from a year's service in the field, no matter under whatever conditions; it is much more usually the sequence to a naturally-gifted intellect, cultivated in the schools of modern military science, combined with considerable staff experience.— am, | etc., Arm a, Virumque Cano.