AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 September 1901, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE.

Proposals for the future.

[per PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.]

Melbourne, September 21.

The report of the Colonial Defence Committee in London on Australian Defence has been tabled in the Federal House.

It sets out that the maintenance of British supremacy at sea is a first condition of security for Australian territory and trade in war.

No tirritbry is so little liable to hostile raids from foreign cruisers as long as such naval supremacy is maintained. In indicating measures of defence a well organised military force with long range weapons and smokeless powder is put first; secondly, fully garrisoned shore batteries, and submarine mine fields; thirdly, adequate field force forming the nucleus of permanent troops.

Military forces akoulcl consist partly of paid troops. The adoption of the magazine rifle is assumed. The Federal Government is advised to at once secure larger reserves of ammunition.

Stress is laid on the desirability of interchange of military units with England. The report of the Commonwealth Military'Pay Committee was also tabled. The scale of pay for permanent forces is recommended to range from £ISOO a year for Major-General, and 2s fid up to 3s fid per day for privates. The pay for permanent naval forces, decided on a military basis for military forces’ 8s a day is recommended as the lowest rate of pay.