Evening star., 1916-07-25
Militia Model for World.

Aitet the AutrAllan parliament pass
ed the defense act. 1t Immediately in
vited Lord Kitchener to visit the is
land. examine local conditions and
make recommendations This business-
like proceeding produced a militia Or
ganization which stands as a model to
the world The results are all the more
noteworthy when we consider that the
Australian Is. II possible. more individ-
ualistic than the American. 1t has been
proved that there Is nothing basically
antagonistic between submitting to
necessary military training and enjoy
ing complete political liberty. The
as the range rider of the western
United States. yet he submits to dis
cipline to serve his country.
AS the pioneer nation favorfng uni
yersal service. Australia found mary
difficulties in her path. In the first
place. her area was great, about 1000
900 square miles. inclased in a coast
line of more than 10000 miles (the
United States coast line Is 10000 miles
and continental area 3.616,000 square
of nearly 100000 was unequally dis
tributed, the greater portion living
within 300 miles of the eastern, south
ern and western coast of the island,
with moro than one-third of the aggre-
gate inhabtttng the five principal cities
OF the commonwealth. The United
States has a population distribution of
the Same type. but on 4 highly exag-
gerated scale.
Tho system Of training brought into
force in Australia was no radical de-
parture from what had gone before. It
was the simple extension Of the exist
ing militia and cadet system to include
all those who were physically At In
stead OF limiting membership to volun-
teers. From this seed. which had been
terminating for twenty years. grew up
the present successful plan.
Actual Training Period Short.
The Australian defense act Of 1903,
largely amended. imposed a system of
compulsory training. on all At males
beginning with cadets of twelve to
eighteen years Of age, followed by ono
year in tho citizen forces az recruits.
diers for seven years. Liability ceases
with the completion of tho twenty sixth h
year, but men are expected to join the
rife clubs which are established all
ing The actual period Of military
training Is exceedingly short. the time
required of tho young citizen soldiers
| from eighteen to twenty-six years be-
ing only sixteen days in each year. OF
this period eight days must be passed
In camp In continuous training.
Compared with European require
ments. this Is excessively limited. but
because of the ardor of the cadets, and
the fact that shooting Is a national
pastims in Australia, the ends are out
| Of all proportion to time expended.
Tho whole country is divided into
| recruiting districts. ninety-two in num-
Der. Of approximately equal popula-
ton. each district providing one in
fantry battalion. When the system
, is in full operation It 10 estimated that
the total number Of mon under train
ing will be 10000 cadets and 100000
citizen soldiers. Antedating tho out
break Of war in 1914. the Australian
militia totaled $4,000 in all ranks. In
addition TO these there were 10000 un-
dergoing training as senior cadets. Also
about $4,000 were registered in the rifle
| clubs.
Units Gradually Merged.
The former militia and volunteer
units were gradually merged into
the new oitisen army. When COM
plste this win consist Of twsnty-<hres
infantry brigaAes (nfnsty-kwo bat
talions). twsnty-siSht regiments Of
light hofss. fo5ty.nins Aeld ana seven
hsayZ battssaes ltoug guns sachA and