DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 25

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, April 22. Colonel Kirkpatrick, who, attended Lord Kitchener during his visit to Australia and New Zealand, has been appointed Inspector-general of the Commonwealth Forces. April 23. Colonel Kirkpatrick is.engaged forfour years, at a salary of £ISOO per annum arid house allowance. Colonel Kirkpatrick is a native of Canada, and has had a brilliant career. ■ MELBOUENE, April 22. Colonel Kirkpatrick was appointed before he left Australia, but the announcement was delayed till the consent of the War Office was obtained. . The appointment had Lord Kitchener's hearty approval. April 23. There is considerable indignation here among military . officers over this appointment, and several Labour members have expressed disapproval, their criticisms being based on the idea that the appointment was arranged after the Government knew that it had been defeated at the polls. There is also objection to the importation of an officer for the post. LONDON, April 21.. , Sir G. H. Raid has issued Lord Kitchener's memorandum on Australian defence, and the London press publishes several leaders and summaries on the subject. The Morning Post declares that the cardinal principle in the memorandum is applicable to Britain. Seven years hence Australians will have insensibly learned the meaning of discipline, and this education will gradually transfigure the social and! political life of the Commonwealth and give new significance to the spiritual bond uniting it with the Empire. April 23. The Morning Post states that Colonel Kirkpatrick's appointment is another indication of the serious attention which Australia is now disposed to give to military organisation. It says it is natural, but hardly logical, that the nation which previously insisted that the Inspectorgeneral should be an Australian officer, has now abandoned that idea.