Cocks letter diary, 1916-1919 / Verner Cocks - Page 482
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[Page 482]
14.
Operations will gradually be extended throughout all units of the Army by means of short courses as relief from military duty may permit.
In this way part of the work will be accomplished during the period of the war, but far more important than this will be to create the proper expectancy for peace conduct and duties in the minds of the men, to collect the necessary statistical information, to gain experience in a novel experiment, and thus to make possible sound plans for full development when hostilities cease.
At such a time it will be the endeavour without delay to turn the Army into a hive of educational energies. Something great and adequate must be prepared beforehand to meet that emergency, and a wide and comprehensive scheme for education offers the greatest opportunity for serving the Army, the men and the State. There are great resources for the task within the Army. Our Technical and Mechanical Sections would at once be turned into schools for all branches of technology. Experts in such subjects and in all matters pertaining to land and commercial pursuits will be employed beforehand in getting their plans drawn up and facilities for their execution will be arranged and similarly with regard to all other studies for which preparatory need is revealed.
The whole scheme needs to be approached, conceived and carried out in a large and comprehensive manner and in a generous spirit. If this is so there is every reason to believe that the spirit and capacity inherent in the A.I.F. is capable of making a great success of the undertaking.
Libraries and apparatus on a large scale must be got ready, and the ultimate cost is bound to be considerable but no cost could be more readily justifiable from every consideration of military, civil and personal welfare.
A preliminary credit of £5,000 has been asked for from the Commonwealth Government, and further authority will be asked to meet the expenses of the organization as need arises. The salaries of the personnel engaged in the