The Evening Star MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1873

Evening Star, Issue 3262, 4 August 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1873

When an organised body of men complain that the rules and regulations under which they act are not adapted bo the efficient working out of the purposes intended, it is time to look into the matter. This is precisely the case with our Volunteer force. It is not the rule of the service for any member 0 f it—under we do not know what rank —to move in the matter. At Home any officer who dared to find fault with things as they were—or perhaps as they are; for we are not aware what changes the abolition of the sale of commissions has made in that respect—would have been deemed guilty of contempt of the Horse Guards ) and as for a private, the poor fellow would have been punished for sedition. We have no doubt this strictness of discipline is absolutely necessary in an army, where success in battle depends on unity of purpose and prompt obedience to wellunderstood commands. We therefore find no fault with the rule being applied to our Volunteers. At the same time it interferes sadly with the probability of reform necessary to the attainment of that proficiency in armament and tactics absolutely required to enable our fellow-citizens to repel attack with the greatest certainty; and, what is of equal importance, with the greatest security to themselves. Luckily, our citizen-soldiers, though debarred the use of the pen, have not lost the use of their tongues ; and as we and every member of the community value their proffers of service in case of need, and more still their lives, so that we should not like to see them placed in needless peril, it is our duty to advocate their cause, and to press upon the Government those reforms which it is the conviction of the Volunteer force are much needed. Whatever we say on the subject, therefore, is with the view of working with them ; and we trust we shall have their help. If, in our inexperience, we suggest what is not needed, we are open to correction, and hope that no wrong construction will be placed upon it. We think it highly necessary that clear ideas should be entertained regarding the end to be gained by a Volunteer force. Primarily, it was organised as a means of repelling attack from without. That other, and very important advantages have resulted to individual Volunteers and society, there can be no doubt \ but to them we need not at present allude. Dealing with the first and most obvious intention, we would ask, has this important end been sufficiently attended to by the Government or the public ? The Honorable Mr M'Lean has moved in the matter in the House of Representatives, and some time since gave notice of motion for a Committee to inquire into and report upon “ the general defences of the Colony,” “ with power to confer with a Committee of the Legislative. Council appointed for a similar purpose.” No doubt this question will be thoroughly considered, but, if public opinion is expressed on the point, it will add much to : ; the good likely to result from the inquiry. When, therefore, we assert there is pressing need for this investigation, we only express the opinion of competent men who have seen much actual service, and whose testimony is beyond question. There are two essentials to success in battle : a soldier’s arms must be equal and superior if possible, to those of his opponent; and he must be equally skilful in the use of them. We put the question to a veteran one day—Are our Volunteers armed with weapons equal to the requirements of the present day % His reply was significant. “Their present weapons are totally unfit for active service. If Great Britain were at war with another country, and New Zealand were attacked, though opposed by the united Volunteer force of the Colony, one thousand well-armed men could go from end to end of it.” The Duke of Wellington, though a soldier, was remarkable for the value he placed on human life. His memorable reply to the Minister who pressed him for political purposes to risk a battle should never be forgotten : “ I will not risk the life of a single soldier unless some strategic end is to be gained by it.” Yet we are content to allow husbands, brothers, sons to be thrust forward in case of emergency, to become helpless marks for an enemy’s sharpshooters, simply because we are too supine to insist upon their being properly armed. Whatever merits the rifles at present in use may have as arms of precision, the loading and firing is so slow a process, that, opposed to troops equipped with and drilled in the use of the best modern weapons, they may be pronounced useless. It is the plain duty of society to insist upon an alteration in this respect. We believe it is the opinion of professional men that the Snider medium Enfield is the strongest and best weapon for Volunteer purposes. If there be a better, let it be had ; but let our Volunteers be properly equipped. This is the first requisite : in future articles we shall consider other important changes.