UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13714, 2 October 1908, Page 5

UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

THE' EXA>IPI.E ; OF AUSTRALIA

COMMENDED TO ENGLAND.

Press-'■AMociatHHhrßy Telegraim-Copyright LONDON, .September 30,

Ths "Evening t7..auaard M declares that the Australian Defence Bill snows the road that Britain ought to take in order to secure true national security. f The "Pall Mall Gazette" says that/Britain ought to listen tiuwou.-ly the vo : ce of common prudence, sine-e her danger is infinitely nearer than Australia's.

PAYMENT WANTED BY LABOUR-

ITES.

MELBOURNE. October 1.

In reply to questions, Mr Deakin stated that the Government regarded the Admiralty's despatch cs a towards the acceptance of the Comaionwealth naval proposals. There is a strong /feeling among the Federal Labour party that those serving in the National Guard suould receive payment for the time spent in training, and <m effort will be mad* to have the principle engrafted xn to the Bill. The provides for the gradual extinction of the present militia force in three vean?~

THE SCHEME EXPLAINED.

In a memorandum recently tabled in the Federal innate, >t was set forth that "the general duties of all citizens of Australia to take part in the defence of their county were recognised definitely in the>' De-f«ace-Act* ISO 3-1904, but only in reference to service in xime of,' war." It was stated that "i-o far as exigencies of defence will permit, it is proposed to allow individuals to select the arm of the service to which they will belong, and to allot to the naval sen-ices such numbers as may be required." It was nest explained Low the compulsory cadet- system was to be aimed, at. The misnorandnm says on this head: "Cadett, and Senior Cado. Training.. — This is intended io become universal and eventually compulsory on all lads from 12 to 18 years of age, and will be performed both while attending and after laving school. In the latter cas<j it will be so arranged as. to interfere as little as possible with their employment. The compulsory character of this training will be held in abeyance until there are sufficient instructors • available. Meanwhile, the existing volunteer cadet organisation will be fostered, ■ and may even become nearly -universal' prior to it 3 enforcement ■on account of the curtailment of the National Guard training periods in the cases of those who have attained a satisfactory efficiency as cadets. The training of cadets will probably include physical drill, elementary musketry, and marching, and that of senior cadets military formations and musketry." Coming to the training and classification of the National Guard, the memorandum stated that men of 18 to 26 years of age would be divided into two classes. Those from 18 to 21 would be required to attend a training of eighteen days in the first ■ year, eighteen in the second, and twelve in the third. The | periods would be curtailed to twelve days in each year if the member had a satii-fac-tory record asa cadet, or, at the initiation of "the system, could show a knowledge of recruit drill and musketry already attained. * Members of the Nutional Guard would be organised as Tegiments and brigades in accordance with the authorised war establfehmenfc!. On passing out of these units at the age of 21, if not promoted, they would be incorporated in tha senior regiments of the National Guard, each of which would consist of officers and men who had passed through the correjf-p-aiding junior unit. The place*.'and times or training are to be so chosen, wherever .poss'ble, as t» suit local conditio™ of employment, and nrevent dislocation of business. Thus, in large centres of population th? younir men of the same age can be distributed in different unit-,, and thew be called out at different periods, so that emplovets will have hut a rmall proportion of their employees absent at one time. S'jjiikirly. in country districts, periods when work m not pressing will always bo preferred. All units will be formed on a territorial limns, and trained in their own districts, thus decreasing wry eonr/derably the cost of ilie -mnisal camps. The detailed training of tb-> National Guard is fully explained, and th' following >ententv is put in italics : " The training of the force will he limited t" surh matters as are ah'Ciliiielv for war." It i; hinted thai th- ">erv\e of liui.-,- living in the far buck district:.-, wit'i very sparse population*, mnv have 10. Ve held in uheyance, at any l.iie dmii"^Hie first few years of the new system." It is empli.isi.-*d that the train in» in annual camps fur I hi.* major portion of the National Guard si not 'iitfinled to he eventually the whole military experience of th' Austi'ilian National Force. A<< cadets, the memorandum pro* veils, all will have h-anird the elements <:f drill and nii'tskeiiy, and ill* instruction after t!it\ age of eighteen years will be restricted to the pnutlii-e of military <>peratioriti in the field. The rank ami til- w'll learn in this hint stage to uppieciate their tesponKiliilltie.s ;tv oui|Mi«i s-.-iiii'ies and ficouif; thi-y will be taught lii>- ir.ctho.i of attacking and deftiidiiig pn>iliui;,. and linu- t<; pioiect thems<-lvts fiinii \»:„ under lite by iiatuial or ariiiieial rover. Mu>ke;ry «ill b<- ei.wiiiued, mid oxpctieiire ga'ned witJi targeu nueh as an eiKniy pr-.-tnii in war. ;l ud all will he .shown not mt-r.-ly how to shoot, but the elfee'. of th>ir sh(>i>'.iiig on an *W!iiy. Kventnally the (iiiuii.il eatnp-f ate to take the form of moving column*, imiodiicing the very difficult but liule ui:der>too,| jirolilt'tiis of how to move and supply nrmi-i; in the held.