Evening star., 1941-11-16
AustruIiu's West
Point
By Frederic J. Hdskin.

On open, sun-browned hills about 3
miles from Canberra worlds newest
capital, stands Duntroon, little West
Point, from which are graduating the
leaders of AuStralia's 100000 soldiers in
the second great war of Australias
history.
Basic military problems of this small
democracy in the Southwestern Pacific
were similar in many respects TO those
of the United States. Neither country
had. nor wanted, large standing army.
Both needed a foundation of trained,
professional officers on which nom
professional army could be built in a
hurry when occasion arose.
Recent reorganization of Australia's
home defense army on war footing in
response to Far Eastern tension spot
lights this American-modeled military
! college, which recently provided the Aus
tralian Army with its first jor general.
Founded in 1911, the college, on the
advice of the late Lord Kitchener, was
modelled in many respects on the West
Point of the United States.
Kitchener wanted all future officers Of
| the Australian Staff Corps, to which
/ cadets are posted on graduation from
college, to be equal, if not superior, in
military education to the officers Of any
army in the world" He advised that in
the future no officers should be ap-
pointed TO the Australian permanent
staff except from the college. Equally
I important was his recommendation that
cadets should be obtained irrespective Of
wealth or class, and that after a four
years course they should be sent abroad
| for experience with British or Do
| minion Army.
Australia took Kitcheners advice and
| adheres to it most rigidly. Cadets are
/ chosen from every grade of society by
competitive examination. Then the
country takes charge of them and grants
an allowance for expenses.
Before World War l the New Zealand
government accepted an offer to train
cadets at the college creating between
Australian and New Zealand soldiers
cooperation which was invaluable in
that war One hundred and thirty-four
Australian graduates and "a New Zea-
! land graduates served in it, SO Aus
| tralians and New Zealanders losing
! their lives.
At the outbreak Of the present war.
Duntroon had produced about 900 off,
GERS, more than $50 of whom are now
serving with the Australian imperial
forces. There has scarcely been time
to produce brilliant and experienced gen.
~, .k,;r Dr;C arI
James Milford, who graduated from
Duntroon in 1915, was recalled from
service abroad as a divisional artillery
commander, promoted to the rank Of
major general and appointed master
general of the ordnance. He is the first
graduate of Duntroon to reach the rank
| Of major general in the Australian Army
| and to become a member Of the mill
/ tary board.
There are three types of entry to Dun
troon: Normal, four-year course, tenn
| porarily reduced to three years to over,
come the shortage of officers in the
Australian Staff Corps; service, of three
years, and special, of one year. A can
didate is eligible for normal entry II he
is over 16 and under 20 years Of age,
unmarried, medically At, has passed
specified examinations and is approved
by the minister for the army. He Is
| eligible for service entry if he is men,
| Der Of the defense forces, over the age
/ of 49, has passed specified examinations
and is approved by the governor gen.
eral. He may join by way Of special
entry if he is medically fit, over 20 and
under Is, unmarried, possesses certain
educational qualifications and is recon-
mended by the military board and ap-
/ proved by the minister for the army,
! who has power to direct that in special
circumstances candidates over Is shall
| be eligible. On graduation, cadets are
| eligible for appointment to the Australian
Staff Corps with the rank Of lieutenant.
Normal and service entry cadets are
| given an outfit allowance of about 500
on joining and maintenance allowance
of approximately 81 day. which may,
| in certain circumstances, be increased.
! Special entry cadets receive the same
outfit allowance and an annual allow
ance of about $780, Courses of instruc-
ton practically parallel those in West
Point and high-ranking military schools
in other countries.
! The life of the staff cadet in Australia
| is strenuous. He is taught never to order
a task which he cannot undertake him.
self Consequently, his education must
be thorough. his physical condition hard.
He rises at 6:l5 m, prepares the bed
| sitting room allotted to him for minute
inspection and arranges the detail OF
/ books, uniform and equipment for the
days instruction.
| At 8 am. work proper begins and runs
| on by hourly periods to lunch at 1890
pm. after which he has few moments
of leisure before commencing at l:3O pm.
further two hours lecture or practical
work quick change takes him to the
football, hockey or cricket field, or to the
tennis courts or gymnasium for his daily
sport. Dinner is at $50 pm. and y fol-
lowed by a two-hour study period beeore
! lights out at 1915 pm. The week ends
provide some departure from routine.
| Sporting matches are arranged on the
Saturday half-holiday. Sunday after
| church parade can be employed as the
cadet wishes.
The college area has an altitude o!
| 1920 feet. 1t is surrounded by lofty hills.
ranging from 5000 to 5000 feet, chief Of
which is the majestic Bimberi, snow
capped in winter. The Monongolo River
marks it's course along the plain with
! line of willows. The climate Is a dry,