The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 20, 1901. NEW ZEALAND’S INVULNERABILITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 137, 20 June 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 20, 1901. NEW ZEALAND’S INVULNERABILITY.

Ax interesting article on the subject of the invulnerability of New Zealand has been written by Mr P. B. Fitzherbort, lato of Boberts’ Horse. He states that “few New Zoalanders realise, at the present moment of military ebullition and national bravado, that loud as our boast of powei may be, yet nevertheless such boast is founded on a sad and unreasonable delusion. Sad because it may be the moans of our downfall and ignominy, unreasonable because there is no reason why it should continue to exist. Here we are living comfortable lives (most of us), smiling placidly at each success of British arms, incredulously at each defeat, and constantly forming an increased opinion of our own right, dominion, and power. Yet the mighiy may fall and the humble bo exalted.” We have not heard anything of boasting about the militn>y [lowers of New Zealand, and theVefore it is not clear where the delusion comes in. The writer then goes on to suppose that say France were to declare war against England. Ho considers that two or three cruisers might be spared to annoy New Zealand. “ A foreign cruiser may arrive opportunely in Cook Strait, and, approaching within a mile or two of Island Bay, request the immediate surrender of our capital or the payment of no small indemnity, and in default thereof, bombardment. That such could be done is beyond any shadow of doubt to any naval authority or person with experience of the capacity and capability of modern naval artillery. The Wellington forts in such case would be most useful for firing salutes of regret, but for no other purpose. Perhaps it was great foresight on the part of our oldtime authorities in constructing deathtraps to so place them as to be-out of harm’s way, and to be incompetent to assault and anger an enemy.” ['hen the writer alludes satirically to the fleet.- “No enemy would be foolish enough to enter Port Nicholson beforo having effected the surrender of Wellington by previous judicious bombardment from a point of safe vantage. But, of course, there is the mighty and imposing Australian squadron of some dozen odd more or loss (especially less) effective mon-o’-war. Where would they come in ? Probably after the death, for out of this mighty power possibly two small cruisors would devote their attention to the defence of Zealandia. It would not, therefore, require any great stealth or strategy on Johnny Crapaud’s part to give one of our cities a severe drubbing whilst the Mildura and Tauranga were elsewhere, or even lying snugly within the harbor of such beleaguered town.” And now we come more to the point, for we find that Mr Fitzherbort is not merely a captious critic, but poses as an expert, who has good counsel to offer. This is the big order he gives : —“To remedy this liability to petty attacks and momentous consequences the present forts must be dismantled and the majority of the guns placed in tho Museum, and effective forts (in Wellington’s case) constructed at Penearrow, Island Bay, and one or two j equally suitable places on the coast of the Strait. Such forts to be armed with up-to-date longrraug o heavy weapons of naval construction, and a complement of smaller armament, with a plenity of ammunition. These defences would soon upset the calculations of a roaming cruiser, and either send her homeward-bound or to the bottom of the deep blue sea. As with Wellington, so with Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. This done, our four great eiti.es possess a great immunity, and only tho lesser coastal towns would be insecure? But we can hardly suppose that Oamaru, Tinjaru, or Napier would bo the object of such small expeditions.” But there is hope for us even if the British navy were destroyed. “We produce more than enough to satisfy, our own wants in respect of the general necessaries of life. To subdue us, therefore, an enormous expedition must be organised by France to. make & systematic conquest. Her squadrons and transports would have free and uninterrupted passage of the seas> and coaling stations by seizure. Now, the fighting force of New Zealand could be, in extremes, about 200,000 men (one of four), provided there was a sufficiency of arms and ammunition wherewith to supply them. And when one remsmbeis that the greatest military authorities hold that one man entrenched

(other things being equal) is good against eight or nine attacking, it will be seen that two million fighting men would be required to effect the conquest of New Zealand. Let it be said that one million only would be necessary, and let one think of the expense attached to the operations of the British Army in South Africa, and remember the distance between England and Capetown, Marseilles and New Zealand. Then, perhaps, one may realise the magnitude of such expedition, and debate whether or not it could ever be put into moiion, or, if put in motion, could be skilfully wielded.” In a comparison between South Africa and New Zealand the writer states that “ whereas New Zealand is peculiarly adapted to defence, so South Africa is most favorable for attack, it being understood that the attacking force in each case must be vastly superior numerically. Lord Roberts’s brilliant operations leading up to the relief of Kimberley aud the fall of Pretoria could hardly, if ever, have been successful had he not had continuously level country to deal with, the Free State and South Transvaal being nothing but a huge plain, seldom broken except by small rocky hillocks (kopjes) or a group or string of kopjes, and here and there by an empty river bed. Flanking movements could always be made, and transport was a mere bagatelle. Any artificial obstructions were apparent at great distances, and any foreign object on the surface of the veldt immediately caught the eye. Thore wore no bushes, hedgerows, drains, stumps, or similar cover to harbor sharpshooters, and lend facilities for ambuscade. Natal, on the other hand, more nearly represents New Zealand than any other part of South Africa under present notice, and that fact no doubts accounts for Puller’s incipient defeats. He would have been delayed still longer had not Lord Roberts threatened the enemy’s base of operations by relieving Kimberley and capturing Oronje. But had Ladysmith been surrounded by Now Zealand country, Buffer, in spite of his splendid determination and bull-dog courage, would have stiff been barking in Colenso.” In conclusion the "writer becomes quite frivolous, aud thereby lessens the value of his criticisms and suggestions. ‘ ‘Adequate forts properly situated are all that are required to make New Zealand invulnorable, or at any rate reasonably securo. Yet the military authorities are wasting time and money on the formation and equipment of volunteers and rifle corps, who in the case of war would have the satisfaction of being interested spectators whilst a little boat with big guns playfully played skittles with Wellington property, interrupted without notice tetes-a-tote between trooper and barmaid, and considerately made city residences suburban—a case of ‘ What oh, she bumps! ’ with no chance of getting one’s money back.” If the , writer had been as observant as he claims to have been, ho would know * that accurate rifle shooting will ever f be one of New Zealand’s chief safe- ■* guards. ___________ tr