IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2581, 16 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

CABLE NEWS.

LORD KITCHENER’S NEW COMMAND.

THE DEFENCE CONFERENCE

United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, August 13.

In the House of Commons, Mr Haldane, Minister for War, made a reply to Mr W. W t . Ashley, Conservative member for Blackpool, regarding Lord Kitchener’s Mediterranean post and the discussions of the Defence Conference. The reply showed that the opportunity existed for a better and more comprehensive organisation of the military forces of the Crown wherever stationed./ It has become evident that there was more work to do locally than could be done at headquarters. Therefore it was important that various subdivisions of the problem of Imperial defence as a whole should be studied on the spot by officers of high standing and ■wide experience, with the time at their disposal to fully consider the questions involved. Moreover, as in the case of the Mediterranean, there was inspection of regulars throughout Africa, and the giving of military advice to the local authorities., It was impossible at present to forsee or define the extent whereto such duties might expand in the future, and so modify a situation where large possibilities of work and reorganisation. were opening themselves up.

The Defence Conference Committee is approaching the end of its deliberations. Tlie next plenary meeting will he held next week. It is officially stated that arrangements of a satisfactory nature with Australia are in process of completion. LORD CHARLES BERESFORD AND THE ADMIRALTY. o _____ REPORT BY COMMITTEE OF THE COMMONS. (Received August 15, £>.s p.m.)

A sub-committee of the House of Commons appointed by Mr. Asquith, has issued a report on the recent allegations made against the Admiralty. It declares that during the time covered by Lord Charles Beresford’s allegations, namely April, 1997, to April, 1908, no'danger to the country resulted from the Admiralty’s arrangements for war, whether considered from the standpoint of organisation or distribution of fleets, the number of ships, or preparation, of war plans. The report states: “We feel bound to add that the arrangements were quite defensible in themselves, though not ideally perfect, and were in practice seriously hampered through the absence of cordial relations between the Board of Admiralty and the Commander-in-Chief of. the Channel . fleet (Lord Charles Beresford). The Admiralty does not appear to have taken Lord Charles Beresford sufficiently into their confidence regarding the reasons for the dispositions to which he took exception. Lord Charles Beresford, on the other hand, appears to have failed to appreciate or' carry| out the spirit of the Board’s instructions, and to recognise their paramount authority.” The committee referred to differences of opinion amongst officers of high rank on naval strategy and tactics, and look forward with much confidence to the furthe development of a naval war staff, from which members of the Board and flag officers and their staffs at sea may he expected to derive common benefit.

IMPORTANT SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR WAR. UNIFICATION OF IMPERIAL FORCES. Mr. Haldane, speaking at Bradford, referred to the Defence Conference, and said that he was glad to announce that there were plans, more than within eight, for unifying the forces throughout the Empire. He said that it was not for nothing that Lord Kitchener was going to Australia and New Zealand, and then assuming command in the Mediterranean, with the duty of organising the troops in South Africa,, and the still larger duty of making plans for the necessary concentration in case the Empire is attacked. Wherever the theatre of future war, whether Australia, Africa, India, or Britain, the forces of the Empire would be so organised as to enable them to 1 he concentrated. General Sir John French is going to Canada to work , out the plans there.