H.—l9a

3

The maintenance of this number will require an annual supply of about five officers; so that, to allow for the selection of the best men, I would recommend that New Zealand should send ten cadets annually to the Australian college, from whom five would ultimately be chosen for commissions in the Staff Corps. You have so recently had the views of the War Office on the land forces of New Zealand that 1 do not deem it necessary to point out the considerations which govern the defence of this Dominion. You will find, however, that Fart 1 of the project which I gave to the Commonwealth Government, and which I now enclose and recommend to you, does not differ from the War Office memorandum in any matters of importance ; but it will, I hope, afford you a practical scheme for giving effect to your defence measures. At the risk of repetition, I wish to again emphasize the importance of placing the; ideal of your defence on as high a standard of efficiency as possible, in order that the men serving, as well as the public, may have a just pride in the fighting value of the Force, and so insist upon the observance of the important principle that defence should be outside party politics, and not used by individuals for political purposes. A thoroughly trained and efficiently equipped Force should be the supreme object of your efforts, and no personal consideration should for a moment be allowed to stand in the way. It only remains for me to thank you most sincerely for the facilities afforded me on my visit, and for the assistance which I have everywhere received in the inspection of your defences and troops. I shall always remember with much gratification my association with the forces of this Dominion. 1 shall follow their progress with the keenest interest, and I shall be only too glad at any time to give you further advice or assistance as may be in my power. I forward you herewith a separate " confidential " communication on the subject of the fixed defences of New Zealand. Yours very truly, Kitchener, F.M. MEMORANDUM ON THE ACT OF 1909 APPLIED TO NEW ZEALAND ON THE LINES SET OUT BY THE FIELD-MARSHAL, AND ITS EXPANSION TO MEET THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN HIS LETTER OF THE 2nd MARCH, 1910. Strategical Considerations. 1. The strategical considerations set out by Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener in bis memorandum on Australian defence generally apply to New Zealand. Strength required. 2. The strategical considerations being somewhat equal, the recommendation that 80,000 form the fighting-force of Australia may, on a population basis, be taken to mean 20,000 for New Zealand, having about one-fourth of the population of Australia. This will also meet in principle the suggestions by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (War Office) as the outcome of the Imperial Defence Committee, 1909. Organization of the Force. 3. The Defence Bill of 1909 gives effect to the principle that every male up to the age of twentyone must be trained to defend his country. To meet this, and to provide for voluntary service beyond twenty-one, the Force now designated " The Territorial Force " (late Volunteer) is being organized into a Field Force on modern establishments, consisting of one each in the Districts of Auckland, Wellington; Canterbury (including Nelson), and Otago : — Four brigades Mounted Rifles, three regiments each, twelve regiments. Four brigades Infantry, four battalions each, sixteen battalions. Four brigades Field Artillery and Ammunition Columns of two four-gun batteries each. Four Field Engineer companies. Four Mounted Signalling companies, and four Infantry. Four Mounted Field Ambulances and four Infantry Field Ambulances. Four companies Supply Column Mounted and four Infantry. Provision is also made for the Royal New Zealand Artillery (Permanent Force) and Garrison Artillery, in establishments to suit the scheme of fixed defence at each defended port, the whole totalling on a peace footing 20,000 as a first-line fighting-force, to be ready to take the field and man the forts at short notice, equipped and complete in every respect. <L For peace establishments of this Force, see Schedule 111 attached, the war establishments being the same as Imperial Army. The peace establishment to form the 20,000 fighting-force to be found by the Territorial Force drawn as hereafter described, and the augmentation to war establishments, will be provided from the recruits, 18-19, and the 25- and 26-year men.