DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 399, 25 April 1902, Page 2

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighl Melbourne, April 24.

The Minister of Defence has tabled in the House General Hutton’s minutes dealing with the defence of Australia. He says that for the defence of Australian soil a garrison force and a field force are necessary, and for the defence of Australian interests wherever threatened the essential is sea supremacy guaranteed by the Roya’ !fr w „ v ; and the s^° n J the possession of a field force capamC undertaking operations in any part of the world. The existing peace establishment of the Commonwealth consists of 15,470 garrison troops, and 14,101 of a field force. To put them upon a war footing, it would be necessary to slightly increase the garrison force, and to increase the field force to 28,748, with 120 guns, consisting of 10,458 mounted troops, 27,106 artillery, and 15,534 infantry, making the total garrison and field forces 44,218. He favors the development of rifle clubs, cadet corps, the gradual establishment oi a small-arms ammunition, shell and cordite factory, and a gun foundry. He estimates that half a million would be sufficient to complete the garrison force and render the field force capable of carrying out the functions. He urges the necessity of modern equipment and the dangerousness of delay in completing a proper scheme of defence.