OUR ARMAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5340, 9 May 1878, Page 3

OUR ARMAMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —The most serious news of late in regard to Australasian interests is the despatch of 650 Russian officers and men to America to fit out vessels. No doubt these are only to form a nucleus, which may be enlarged to a force of 2000 to 3000 men, and still be considered part of the' Bussian navy ; so we may expect to sse ten or twelve vessels fitted out with the greatest despatch, in order to get them to sea before the actual declaration of war. Though Russia is .nearly bankrupt, there are plenty of shipowners willing to sell some half-worn vessels on the chance of pickings from Australian waters. It is high time we looked things in the face; for though •at present defenceless, yet, depending on our own resources alone, we are much stronger, in proportion to any attack to which we, are exposed, than the Confederate States were during the American war. I believe the Government have in their possession the detail drawings :; (confidentially supplied) of the various parts required for the construction of torpedoes; if not, I can say they are to be had out here. Though we have Establishments quite capable of making*these, we cannot as yet make our own artillery. Would it not be as well to have one or two made for patterns at bach port ? Having something to work oh, the foundries at the principal ports could turn out what were required if the. Russians give them time.

' Then we must consider the amount of explosive material in - the colony—powder, guncotton, dynamite, lithofractsur, &o.—and know'what can be depended bn at each port. We can scarcely expect to find sufficient insulated wire in the colony for electric mines, but .would have to depend principally on mechanical means for exploding, j Our Volunteer Artillery should be encouraged and exercised at points commanding the entrances of,the harbors, that they maybe well, acquainted with the ground they might have tq woi'k'on. ; Other corps should receive instruction in supporting them, and also get information.as-to the nature of the ground. Hitherto these points have been considered unsuitable for the amateur parades, and few have any, knowledge bf the locality. ' Every effort should he made to have one or two good torpedo boats at each port, the value attached to them can; be seen from the news published to-day. • ; : - , It is to be hoped our guns may arrive soon. Speaking from memory, X think “ Übique” has credited the seven-inch gun with the power, of the 9-inch. I don’t attach much value to chain L , cable defence. against the 64-pounder;-but both are good guns. We could usefully employ more than twenty-two in the defence of our; four principal ports; but more depends on the positions selected for them thanthe number;—l am, &c., ; G.R.N.