COLONIAL DEFENCES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2190, 3 August 1889, Page 2

COLONIAL DEFENCES

[PJKR i'BKBS ASSOCIATION,] Melbourne, Aagast 2 Major- General Edwards, who is now engaged m inquiring into the efficacy of the colonial defences and military forces, argues emphatically m favor of a strong navy, the policy of Australia being, m his estimation, to hold an enemy at arm's length. The first line of defence should be increased by seven new war vessels. This would probably make the colonies secure for ten years, when it would be time enough to think of forming an i Australian navy, to be supported by the colonies alone. Coming to the second line of defenoe, namely, coast batteries, General Edwards thinks littlo remains to bo done, the harbor defences being complete. Concerning the third line, he is opposed to the Volunteer Force,- strictly so called, because the whole expense is borne by the men m addition to giving their services^ A partially paid militia, he thinks, is a good institution, and he favors a medium between a paid and unpaid force, whose mainspring shall bo patriotic defence, while the men composing it are indemnified for the actual expense they incur. The General explains that the essentja| object of his visit is to lay the fontfcjatjon of a comparative system of defence for the. whole of the colonies, j