MILITARISM

Otago Witness, Issue 3527, 18 October 1921, Page 20

MILITARISM

LESSONS OF THE WAR. LONDON, October 11. Sir lan Hamilton's book entitled “ the Boul and Body of an Army'’ has been published. The writer traverses the world’s military organisations in the light of the lessons gained from the war. He says that all the elements of the art of war were never so much in the melting pot as they are now. The fact that Japan chose the German military system was at the moment a gain for Anglo-Saxondom, but it was a- loss to Russia and to China. The penetration of the German military ideal into the Far East yet to hear fruit. Sir ’an Hamilton concludes: “We must not overlook a principle because oy an almost superhuman effort and fine Tacial tenacity we smashed those who espoused it.” Referring to the Japanese' Alliance. Sir lan Hamilton declares: “If we cease to be the military allies of Japan the Pacific had better be renamed, for nothing will then stand between the English-speaking union and a Russo-Japanese-German counter combine. President Harding may then die happy. He will have gone one better than Dr Woodrow Wilson.” Sir lan Hamilton pays a glowing tribute to Lord Haldane's work, and asserts that the late war was won when Lord Haldane stepped into the War Office. He advocates the application of discipline and training in patriotism to boys of school age, in which, he says, Australia and New Zealand are miles ahead of us. Sir lan Hamilton, referring to the British Empire, says : “It has been raised to the present dizzy height by the profound imaginings of a mere handful of great men. Give Napoleon or von Moltke a clean map of the world, a free hand and a year to think matters out, and they could not improve upon what a lot of rather heavy Britishers appeared to have done by chance.” KARL HAIG'S VIEWS. LONDON, October 11. Speaking at the unveiling of a memorial to the fallen at Canterbury, Ear! Haig sharply criticised the proposed disbandment of four regiments of cavalry, stating that he was of opinion that the step was not justified by the lessons of the war. He declared that if Marshal von Ludendorff had had sufficient mounted troops to throw into action at the south-east of Amiens on March 27 and 28, 1918, the result, might have been disastrous to the Allies. The war had taught them emphatically that cavalry was an essential arm, and could not be replaced by tanks, aeroplanes, and heavy guns. AMERICA’S UNKNOWN SOLDIER. LONDON, October 12. Mrs M'Cudden, mother of the airman V.C. winner, has been chosen to take the national wreath to the LTiited States for the grave of the American unknown warrior. The journey is being made under the auspices of the Pilgrim Fathers’ Association. The wreath is 6ft high, and consists of flowers representing the United Kingdom and the dominions. The lady's husband served for 30 years in the army. She lost three sons, a son-in-law, and two nephews in the war. ARMISTICE DAY. LONDON, October 15. Cabinet has approved of the arrangements for observing Armistice Day. Detachments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force will form a hollow square at the cenotaph in \\ hitehall. A representative of the King, with the Prime Minister, the High Commissioners of the dominions and India, will place wreaths on the cenotaph. Two minutes’ silence will be observed on the last stroke of 11, after which time the crowd at the cenotaph, led by the Guards Band, will sing “0 God. Our Help in Ages Past,” The sounding of the reveille will conclude the ceremony. FROM POLICEMAN TO BRIGADIER. GENERAL. LONDON, October 15. Jhrtfrsdiej-t -oners., Gordon has published a racy uiJ autobiographical hook entitled " Chronicles o: a gov Gordon.” It deals wiio his adventurous career in England, Bpair>, Ireland, and Australia, and includes the period when he was an actor in Melbourne and a mounted policeman in Adelaide. It also covers his 30 years’ eoldicring in Australia, where he rose from a lieutenant in the South Australian Artillery to Chief of the Commonwealth General Staff.