The Defence Forced

Southland Times, Issue 19409, 6 October 1904, Page 2

The Defence Forced

THE COMMANDANT SPEAKS OUT. ._■■■ NO ORGANISATION. ' By Telegraph. From Our Special Correspondent. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. Tho annual . report of Major-General Babington pn the defence force of the .colony waa laid on ;'. tho table of tho House to-day. \ The Commandant states ihat .the musters obtained at inspections, with the exception of some of the mounted corps, have been .satisfactory. The progress made in defence works has been again unsatisfactory, the employment of prison, labour being the direct cause. In regard to the permanent force, the training, efficiency, and conduct have beea up .to. the standard of past years and recruiting ia a simple matter. The strength .pf the volunteer force, including cadets and delence » -Ifle clubs, is 18,490. THE VOLUNTEERS. ''•' ; . An improvement has token place in the efficiency of mounted corps. The material is excellent, and, with training,, it would be very hard' to equal theml In muny instances, the saddlery is unserviceable. In regard to field artillery, garrison artillery and engineers, the work •"one waa satisfactory, high figures of merit, being obtained at the annual practice. Th^ infantry showed an improvemwt ; _ iii 'training, but more outdoor work' is required, and the physique of v some of the *?orp? la not up to the mark: It is regretted that but little. advance has been possible in thd* .matter of establishing an organised medical corps, and' it is. hoped that this and a veterinary corps will be established speedily. No fault is found with tit- cadet corps, and the Commandant expresses the conviction that every hoy shouldl be trained as a cadet. At present rifle clubH are not inspected or trained for war, and unless their obligations are extended considerably the Cpmmandant cannot represent them as being an efficient integral part of the defence forces. The lack of * trained* staff .in,, concentrating men at compa was severely felt, and a more gat« v. isfactory scheme of annual camps is to '* ' bo' inaugiu*ated. The, year's work of the school of. instruction is regarded as satisfactory, but the attendance pf senior battalion officers is not Chat it should be. The want of trained Sgnallera 'at manoeuvres has been felt; and the-, results that would ensue pn service are not dffll-, cult to foresee. The recommendation that | equipment be provided has not yet been approved. The Commandant also regrets that the nucleus of an army service corps, trained to the duties of supply and transport, has not been formed at oach^ district headquarters. The position of the colony as regards ammunition b&* been materially, improved by the establishment of a satisfactory reserve: Cr ORGANISATION WANTED. In this connection, the Commandant utters a strong protest. TIo says there is

e________=___s__a»*-_=_-i no organised' staff in the colony,' and those departments which are .absolutely necessary for the training of a force in peace and its. guidance ..and -.maintenance in war dp not exist. Whilst &tatf organisation, is 'on all hands admitted . necessary' for the establishment of any sound business, it appears to oe, in New Zealand, considered superfluous a. a department on which the responsibility for the proper training oi the defence force should fall in time of peace, and on which, in time of war, the safety of the country must, in a large measure depend. In all countries where national military requirements have 'aeon fully appreciated and carried out, tho immense importance of tho logical and efficient organisation of the stafP has been fully recognised as regards the various departments necessary. It is-obvious that unless such departments as those of supply and transport, ordnance, medical, etc, are established and trained in peace timo no force can take the field. If a defence force in New Zealand is. to be maintained it should be efficient, and this could be '"effected*, at;. less*' cost than that with which the present cine ip supported. The Com•mandant smartly retorts on Mr Seddon's frequent declaration that military men are not fitted to run the business and financial departments. He contends that the reverse; is the case, and that the deapartment of Under-Secretary and the, Jcharge of stores and equipment should j '' come under "'."the control of the Command- * "ant/ -Centralisation Is another serious disability: It destroys initiative, and is detrimental to discipline. The election of officers by corps should 'also be discontinued. In concluding, the Major-C'enoral again recommends the reduction of the term of enlistment 'to one year. He regrets th a * volunteer regulations framed iast year have not been approved, and asserts that an excellent spirit pervades all ranks.