LORD KITCHENER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7025, 13 January 1910, Page 5

LORD KITCHENER

A STATE BANQUET PREMIER ON FIELD-MARSHAL’S MISSION. SETTING AUSTRALIA STRAIGHT. By Telcgrapli—Prcsj Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE, January 12. The Federal • Ministry entertained Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener at a dinner in Parliament House last night. Lord Chelmsford, Aoting-Governor-General of Australia, presided ovor a distinguished gathering. The Hon. A. Deakin, PVime Minister, proposed the health of the guest. In the course of his remarks, he said : “ 1 am convinced that before Lord Kitchener has left he will have summed up the elements of the defence problem in such a fashion that wo may at least feel that our foot has found the right and straight path. Under his guidance we hope to essay that organisation of tlio land forces which will couple their development with those of tho naval strength.” LORD KITCHENEIVS REPLY. Lord Kitchener, in his reply, reiterated that he.had been much struck with the very strong and widespread determination existing in Australia ■ for an efficient citizen force. The want of population was a difficulty to be carefully considered, but Australia possessed first-rate material on which to work. In no other country in the world did tho young men show such (natural qualifications upon which to build a military career. A great deal of the training that in the ordinary course was necessary to obtain an efficient soldier was already part of their daily life. HIGH STANDARD POSSIBLE. Tho Field-Marshal advised that tfco excellent natural characteristics of young Australia should bo carefully preserved, and went on to urg6 the importance of establishing a high-class primary military educational system for the training of officers. There was no reason, he declared, why the national forces of Australia should not make their standard of efficiency on a par with, if not higher than, those of the military Powers of Europe and elsewhere, but they could not expect immediate results if they aimed at a high ideal. Time was necessary for the new methods to take effect. During the transition period they would have to devise means gradually to secure an improved organisation without interfering with its development. WARNING REGARDING EXPENSE After uttering a warning against indulging in unnecessary expense, Lord Kitchener declared that if the work were thoroughly don© he did not think a national army organised on sound lines need bring undue strain on the financial resources of the country. Sir George Reid roused much merriment by announcing that ho had intended to propose a scheme of national defence, - but Lord Kitchener had intercepted him at every point.