A Volunteer Force.

Manawatu Herald, 26 May 1900, Page 2

A Volunteer Force.

It appears strange that the government with their military ardour aroused by the events occurring in South Africa, do not do more to encourage volunteering. For the past two years they have refused the services of a corps in this town, because, forsooth, they desire to secure mounted infantry. It seems governments are seized, at various times, with a topsy-turveydom, which is wonderful to outsiders. The British government, a few months ago, refused the offers of mounted men for South Africa, but, as experience teaches even governments wisdom, they have latterly refused all offers of men unless they were mounted. From the experience gained in the war it has been made perfectly clear that mounted men were moved more easily than infantry in a country which was but badly served with railways and in which the enemy, from being mounted were able to move quickly all over the territory. Apparently from these observations our government has come to the conclusion that a mounted force is wanted in New Zealand ! In the first place we shall have actually no land forces to contend against, and the only points which may at any time be threatened will be the four chief ports of the colony. The enemy, be they who they may, must visit us in ships and therefore may safely be reckoned as being only infantry if they should secure a landing. To every chief port there is a long coast line of railway running into it, by which, when needs demands the inland volunteers can be brought speedily together, and by which even the mounted infantry would reach their destination quicker than by road. And, at the port threatened, the mounted troops would be dismounted for the reason that their horses would practically be of no use, and would likewise endanger the lives of the troopers by making them more conspicuous from the attacking ship. It will be clear to anyone looking at the subject *in this light, that mounted men would be of no more service than those who have never received mounted drill. Again, even supposing, and we trust that it may never get beyond a supposition, that an enemy's force actually landed near Wellington for instance, is there any ground suitable for cavalry tactics ? Wellington we all know is naturally defended by a range of hills which could be made impregnable by trenches, and but needs men to fill them, and thus the horses would have to be left in the towns to eat their heads off. A certain number of mounted infantry are useful to act as orderlies and to do outpost duty, but for the real defence of the colony, a force of men on foot, accustomed to plain drill and trained to shoot is what will be the most needed. We contend that the true spirit of defence is to encourage in every way the enrolment of all males under 45 years of age in volunteer companies, and that every encouragement be given to rifle shooting. While the military spirit is strong within the people appears to us to be the time to get such wholesale enrolment, and if, as all will most devoutly wish, their services for defence are not needed, yet the training each man will receive, and the practical lessons he will get in shooting, will be a gain well worth the cost. Parliament will shortly meet when we- trust that this mistaken depreciation of non-mounted corps will be put a stop* to, and the very reverse given effect to.