THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7202, 13 September 1901, Page 2

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

COMMANDANTS REPORT. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. The annual report by the Commandant of the Forces on tlie Defence Forces of NewZealand has been presented to Parliament. The Commandant refers to the good work done by the Contingents in South Africa, and in connection with the review at Christchurch during the Royal visit nays he does not think that anyone present at that most successful function regretted any 'sacrifice he had made to get theic. In regard toHhe permanent forces, he says a great step in adjance has been mads by sending officers arid men to England for training, and, if the system is continued, in a few years it should nofc be necessary for the colony to employ either artillery officers or engineer officers from the Imperial service. He recommenda that the men of the permanent force should be .provided -with their uniform by the Government. The strength of tfie Volunteer Fcrce on July 1 stood at a total of 17,057. The system in vogu© of training the Volunteers, 'he reports, 'is wrong, and requires a complete change, and officers and men must be encouraged to train in the open as much' as possible. He favours seven days* camps of instruction, but is afraid the proposal cannot be carried out, as it would cost from £20,000 to £25,000; a year. He suggests an alternative plan, in the shape of an allowance being made for so many whole days' (training during the year, and that in order to qualify for capitation » mam. must earn a certain proportion of this allowance. In this way he thinks the men would come out on- holidays. An equipment of entrenching tools has been ordered from England, and 'he hopes that, on receipt, Volunteer officers w'.ll take every opportunity of exercising their men in the very necessary work of constructing hasty entrenchments. The Commandant epeaks adversely" of 'the system of obtaining officers by election, and urges the necessity of the higher training of the Volunteer officer. He recommends that the period of training for mounted corps in camp should be extended, and urges that each company should! be allowed a weeks' camp for company training and, at a later date, each battalion, should be assembled for a week's battalion training. On the subject of field artillery the Commandant says that field guns without mobility are useless,! and unless "the Government intends seriously to consider •the question of making the field artillery a really mobile force, further purdfoses will only b& a waste of money. He express** a hope that the garrison artillery and submarine mining corps will have Their capitation increased to £13 and in regard to submarine mining corps remarks that owing to the want of a proper sub-marine mining boat not much real practical work in laying mines can be carried out. On the subject of infantry 'he says there is, no reason why the battalions in the four centres should not be worked as battalions instead of as an aggregate of separate companies, and the goes on to say there is no doubt that" the battalion system is the proper military organisation, and one that would have to be carried out in war time. The infantry, be goes on to say, particularly want an outdoor training, and he hopes other battalions will follow the example of the Wellington Battalion io under- . taking a three days' march; m the Wairarapa last Easter. Reporting on the question of rifle clubs the Commamdiaab urges on captains of clubs the necessity of practising their men ab unknown ranges, and at almost invisible targets, and the great necessity for men being exercised in judging distances. If, he says, the regulations are properly carried out, and the colony ia to get the full value out of the rifle- clubs, a considerable increase will ibave to be made in the instructional staff. He points out, further, that there is am.' excellent range at Trent-ham, where a rifle shooting meeting could' be |$eVJ>&#4 strongly . urges the Gtfferirawnt should take up and extend 'the work of the New Zealand Rifle Association. In regard to staff and organisation, he says he feels it his duty very strongly to bring to notice the wrong system the colony is perpetuating of centralising all the work, and remarks that neither, the Commandant nor the officers commanding districts have anything like the discretionary power they should nave. The system is infinitely worse, he Gays, than anything he. knows of in any part of the Empire, and the one great lesson learnt by the Imperial authorities from the present war is decentralisation and delegation of authority to officers who are entrusted with important commands. For the reponsibility and the work they carry out, he adds, the district commandants are about the worst paid military men ihe knows. A sufficient supply of .303 magazine arms has been ordered from England to equip t-he whole of the forces and to maintain & small reserve. The .303 Martini-Enflelds are being called in, and wiH be available for sale to Government Rifle Clubs. The Defence Department has entered into an agreement with the- Colonial Ammunition Company for the annual supply of two. miMon. rounds o£ small arms ammunition. _ The quality of the ammunition supplied is, he reports, good, and has given cause for no complaint. Tne Commandant urges the establishment of a veterinary branch of the Volunteer Force. In conclusion, he says with pleasure that ihe (leaves the Defence Forces tof the colony in a condition mutfh better fitted to take the field than when he entered upon his command.