STATEMENT BY MR J. COOK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12936, 29 November 1909, Page 5

STATEMENT BY MR J. COOK.

Practically all arrangements have loci made by the Minister for Defence for t lainspection of the Commonwealth troops by lord Kitchener. They were detailed in the following statement by Mr. Jo.seph Cook recently : — "We have decided to have a scries of eight-day camps in connection with Lord Kitcheners visit, instead of the 1910 Eat>ter camps. The object is to get the largest concentration of troop* that i.-, possible in each Stato, Lord Kitchener will at tend these camps, and may take control of them for a portion of the time, so aito be able to gauge thoroughly our military resources and capabilities, and the extent and value of our training. "The first of the camps will be in Queensland. The troops of the northern district we hoje to concentrate at Townsville, where Lord Kitchener calls on his ■way down south. The central and southern di6trict troops will concentrate at the most suitable places. The dates of these Queensland cami*> will be from December 27 to January 3, inclusive. "Lord Kitchener will arrive at Sydney on January 3rd, and from the 3rd to the 10th inclusive the New South Wales camps ■will take place. The garrison troops will be at the forts, and the field force at Liverpool. "Lord Kitchener is expected to arrive in Victoria about January 10th, and from that dat*> to the 17th inclusive the Victorian camps will be hold. These will be at suitable places, which will be indicated later on. "I-o»-a Kit< henrr iv ill be in T.^nmnin from January I7th to January 24th. Ot coiirse, he will rot oe with the tvonj-s in the various States the whole of the time. He will be with each camp a few days, and will then proceed on his tour. This explains the running on of the dates for camps with hardly any break. "With reference to tho dates for the South Australian and West Australian camps, I can give no definite information. They are to be determined when Lord Kitchener's New Zealand tour is settled. He might go to New Zealand from Tasmania, and go to South Australia and the west on his return. This matter, however, is not finally settled. The idea of these camps is that Lord Kitchener should see us exactly as we are, with whatever weakness or strength pertains to our establishment and methods, so as to onablo him to give us the beot advice. It may be slightly more inconvenient for the trainees to get away from their employment for these camps than at Easter. On the other hand, there can be no doubt that most of them will want to see the great war lord. I sincerely hope that the employers of labour throughout Australia •will help us to get the largest concentration of troops, so that we may avail ourselves to the full of the rare opportunities now afforded of getting the best military advice and suggestions which the Empire affords."