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Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 86, 14 March 1885, Page 2

, A very sensible lettet from .Major Noake appears m a recent issue of the Wanganui Herald, m which the writer points out how laudable is the spirit which i« moving our fellowcolonists to volunteer their services for Soudan, and remarks that it would be a sad day for " Old England " and her colonies were that K'piric- dead m our mcc. The writer then proceeds to point out that m view of the present European complications it im incumbent oti the Government to di<coiujteiijiricc' the movement, for the it; i.sou that nioiv valuable :insi.siance vull lie. rendered fO the JYlotlirr C!i»untry, vhiU? »fc tljo *imo conserving the inttresUi of th/& c/ijonv itself*, were all its available rosoiirces aud eucrgies direvted to the pro^ttra-

tion for its own defence against the rail Is it would inevitably be exposed to m the event of a war with such a powerful maritime power as Russia undoubtedly is. The \etter to which f we are alluding concludes aa follows: — "In common with all the Australian. Colonies, immediately upon .the declaration of war, we should become the object of attentive consideration to that not over-scrupulous country, to whose exchequer none ol" us would ] willingly contribute, nor would we care to be compelled thereto. vVould we not rather li-rht than submit to such a degradation 1 I think so. To ensure immunity, we must be prepared for the emergency. Therefore, I think i(j must undesirable to send any of our defensive strength abroad at this juncture." We Relieve the sentiments expressed by thin writer ■will receive general endorsement liy die public at large. We will g*o a little further, and affirm that.inour opinion, however u-orthy of all praise was the spirit of loyalty displayed by the Colony of New South Wales m equipping and despatching at its own cost the expedition to assist the Mother Country m Soudan, on. calm reflection it will be admitted that the step taken was a mistake, for their action m connection wilh which those responsible may y«t experience some difficulty m vindicating themselves. We think that the armament should not have been permitted to leave Australia, and we should not h<» surprised if before it (or what is left of i it) returns New South Wales, and j Australia generally, should have canst* ] to lament it had ever been despatched. The position would be very different j were Australia and New Zealand properly prepared to offer resistance to any enemy with which England might be at war. We think that before this expedition was despatched, the question of the expediency or otherwise of the step proposed to be taken should have been taken into serious consideration, and all the Colonies should have been invited to express an opinion pro or con. The cost of the expedition to New South Wales," and its transportation and maintenance will involve a large expenditure, and will give some idea to outside nations of the wealth and resources of the young colonies m these Southern seau. Depend upon ib the movement has. been critically watched by the European powers, who have formed their, own opinions as to its wisdom and diplomacy. We question gravely if the force despatched will be found of much practical service when it reaches the scene of operations. The men will take some time to get acclimatized, as it is well-known that m climates like that of Soudan only " seasoned " troops are to be depended upon. We fancy that the New South Wales contingent have but a very small idea of what they will have to undergo m Soudan. It cannot he said thafc England absolutely >tood m net»d of th'e assistance sent. Jt may lie accepted as a practical proof of loyalty, bub ie should he remembered that the day may come, and earlier than many seem to think, when as Major Noake points out m the letter from which we. have quoted, these very 'troops may be much more urgently required by Great Britain for the defence of her -;colonie&! We think the. New Zealand Government acted wisely m not countenancing the Soudan expedition agitation, lv the first place, New Zealand cannot afford to show her loyalty m this expensive fashion ; m the second, we h^ve not the material ; and m the third j the colony is m need of ail the local defenders 1 she has, absolutely unprotected as she is against invasion frum abroad. We say all praise to New South Wales for the practical proof she has afforded of her undoubted loyalty and chivalry j hut until the horizon clears so*newhat of the ominous war-clouds now overspreading it, let the other colonies reserve their force-; wherewith to protect their hearths and homes, and unite for self defence, not knowing 1 how soon the call to arms inky be ech< »iug : from shove to shore.