IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13980, 16 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

VISCOUNT/KITCHENER'S' POST. Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright UJ-nDO-N, August 13. la the House of Commons, Mr Haldane's' reply to Mr Ashley regarding Viscount Kitchener's Mediterranean post, and the discussions on the Defence Conference, showed that an opI porfctinity existed for a better and more comprehensive organisation of the military forces of the Crown. j Wherever he lias been stationed it had become evident that there was more work to do locally than could be done at headquarters.' Therefore It was important that the various subdivisions of the problem of the Imperial defences as a whole should be 'studied on the spot by officers of high standing and wide experience, and with time at their disposal to fully consider the questions involved..'.'Moreover', in the case of the Mediterranean, there was the .inspection of the regulars throughout Africa, and the giving of military advice to the local authorities. It was impossible at present to foresee or define the extent whereto such duties might expand in future, and so modify the situation. There were large possibilities for work and reorganisation * opening themselves up.

ADDRESS BY AIR lIALDANE. -• i ORGANISATION OF FORCES. Received 5.5 p.m., August 151.1 i. LONDON, August 14. Mr Haldane, Minister for War, speaking at Bradford, referred to the Defence Conference. He said he was glad to be able to announce that plans were more than within sight for uniting the forces throughout the Empire. It was not for nothing that Viscount Kitchener was gniiifi io Airs tralia and New Zealand, then . assuming the command of (he Mediterranean with the duty of organising the troops in South Africa, and (lie still larger duty of completing the working plans and the necessary concentrations in case the Empire was attacked. Wherever threatened by future war. whether in Australia. Africa. India, or Britain, the forces of the Empire would -.he. so organised as to enable ahem to. be concentrated. General Sir John French was going to Canada to work on (he defence plans there. The Defence. Conference committees are approaching the end of (heir deliberations. The nest plenary meeting will be held next week. It is officially slated that an arrangement <if a 'satisfactory nature wit'' Australia is in process of completion.