DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 87, 16 March 1885, Page 2

DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

*- Tib; Auckland Herald entertains very similar views to those recently expressed by on Selves with regard to [ the despatch of troops from New Zea- ; | land ,to Soudan. jDfuV cpnt^niporury conniders that such is a right exhibition of feeling, and it is appreciated m the old land. It- shows that the I Empire divided by the ocean is one m heart as m name, and tlie sentiment \-- thus evinced and evoked may. accelerate the creation ot that federal bond which has been so long spoken of. But, even if the two thousand men tbus .sent or proffered by the Auslra- \ Iksian commnnititts belonged lo New Zealand alone, and even if they were all already well-disciplined troops, they would not be Biitficient m the times we are now entering on, for the suitable defence of these islands, with their* many hai'bours and ports, unlike the coastline of an Australian colony. This question of defences is at last coming upon our attention m a hard practical way. We really do not know how we .stand at" present j- 1 that is, we cannot now foresee from day to day whether the Empire tp.which.we belong is at war or -peace; Bones of contention have strangely multiplied of late — indeed, several ari>in«;-'froui occurrences m our own neigiibonrhobd^aud concerning oni' immediate intei^est. Even within the experience of this generation war, is npi always an event which casts its shadow be- : fore. .Even when preceded by the u.snal foi-malvdfclaratiQn, the new^s h»s soDietinies diopned like a stone upon 'i.W ! A :i war dftfen breaks but without In nog formally declared. A ; little, book just published on the subject* m England shows us hoW repeatedty this i' happened' an the> last: centnryj, and. m the Bonaparte pevuxj ; how the Battle of Copenhagen, ['"in' ISOI, and of NavaL-mo, in' 1827, were not j)re- ; ceded by any 1 declaration of war ; and how* at the present moment, the French are operating agaiiust the ■ Chinese m Formosa, and on the mainland coast, without any preliminary announcement oi hostilities.