COLONIAL DEFENCE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 461, 27 October 1897, Page 3

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

f Per Press Association. —Copyriyht. j Sydney, This day. A lengthy document, has been issued from the War Office containing a statement from the Colonial Defence Committee showing the principles which so far as they apply to special local conditions it is desirable should be followed in dealing with questions affecting local defence. The document is covered by a despatch from Mr Chamberlain, and concludes as follows :—" Doubtless the time will come when the increasing strength of the resources of the self - governing colonies will enable them materially to assist the Mother Country by placing at her disposal for operation in any quarter of the globe bodies of troops, formed from excellent material and strong self-reliant colonists, but at present the development of their own vast territories in time of peace, and the effective protection of them in time of war was undoubtedly the best contribution the colonies could offer to Imperial defence. To this, however, there is an important exception. England may be engaged in the future, as she frequently has been in the past, in war which carries with it no danger of an attack on the colonies; in such case an offer of assistance from them •will be prizes as it has been on more than one occasion, not only for real value but also as evidence of the solidarity on which the greatness of the British Empire must ultimately rest.