COL. SCRATCHLEY'S REPORT ON NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 10 July 1880, Page 2

COL. SCRATCHLEY'S REPORT ON NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

(by telegraph. ) (from OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)' Wellington, July 10: Colonel Scratchley considers that New Zealand stands, as regards an attack, in a somewhat different position from the Australian Colonies. In Australia there were few harbors of importance" which are not. the centres of large populations, and consequently the resources in men and appliances are to be found where most wanted. The New Zealand population is> scattered over a wide area, with several large harbors possessing equal claims tobe especially protected; and there are also many settlements on the coast which are exposed to attack, but which cannot be included in a general scheme of defence. New Zealand cannot be defended by naval means alone ; a small squadron even could not be relied upon as sufficient protection for the individual ports scattered over a long coast of over 1000 miles. It is obvious that the principle upon which the defence of Now Zealand at the present time should be based is to place each of the principal harbors in a position to. repel an attack from one or two hostile* . cruisers, and at the same time to affordl points of support, and, in case of disas>ter, of refuge to such of Her Majesty "a ships as would in time of war be detached to co-operato in the general defence of Australia and New Zealand. The only places that require local protect tion are Auckland, Wellington, Christ church, Dunedin, and possibly Inveroar-* . gill. The enemy might occupy a union of harbors to prepare an attack or to capture passing vessels, or might be off the road-, steads of Gisborne, Napier, Timaru, or Oamaru for the purpose of levying contributions. Colonel Scratchley recommends that batteries armed with heavy rifled ordnance, together with submarine mines in the channels and torpedo boats for attacking the enemy's vessels. For I the protection of the principal cities near |the seaboards from attacks by'bands'of imen landed from the enemy's ships, lie. has proposed the maintenance of local forces capable of operating in the- field* These measures should be tafcen at oac© for placing the Colony in a position to resist attack by one or two cruisers, and in" future' the scherzo to be extended to resist more formidable attacks. Submarine mines entail the employment of instruments, all< l require skilled h&nd& land s.teady cool heads for their ijaanipiUlV 'tion, otherwise they nuyy become, a source ;of considerable risk, not only to those I who use them, but to friendly vessels which should pass over them in safety, The entrances are favorable, but alargebocty of thoroughly trained men would be needed. Underthe present circumstances farpedppSi will certainly be in their places; required, and more esecti,va against %hips forcing an entrance to. a, ]j>,ort provided aud protected artillery ft?e, so to prevent their ramo.va} by the enemy. There are i three modes of attack—counter mining, creeping, or sweeping. Creeping is the process of removing electrical cables mines by dragging for them along thq, bottom by means of grapnels j a\\aapjn,jy is employed to ascertain the jpp.sitipii, o£ mines by dragging a roj?s up, a,nd, d,o,vyc, channel. If thara was only. on,a harbor* such as Wellington, he, would recommend to.rpp,does as the head-quartera of the telegraph system. Torpedo corps of at least 150 men are needed if the system is adopted at the four chief ports, and would cost As eventually the torpedo corps at Wellington, in lieu of torpedo boats, he recommends fa. the batteries on the W ei M may endeavor to, farco a,n entranqa to, geV inside the) harbor, o,r fa lafld a Woe, levy contributions, retire, or bombard the town and shipping from the sea, or blookade the entrances to the port. The first and second modes can be met by the proposed system of defence batteries, tor* pedoes, and land forces, and the thM s\pdj fourth operations can best W dealt wi,th, by naval means., )fega,rd to Qtagft Heads, rnirable sifa far a battery- to f&ca the e.ntrance command the channel. He proposes a work designed for five guns, but at present armed with two seven-inch and one 69-pounde? rifled guns. Two field pieces shoqld fee* added to protect the rear of th.q work the fire upon adjacent heaohes. bati ! tery, with thpeo guns and threp torpedo boat?, will suffice far tjhe. ppesijn,t require- ! meutg. A a,t of 10 | knots how wouW be exposed to 50 shots from three guns during the time she took to come within or pass beyond range -t3Q £)hot? at ranges from 400 to 20QQ yards. The Ocean Beach to be protected as advised. The Bluff is not at of sufficient importance a larger expenditure, but in pt,aija. would Ka pointed out, Land foroes are xjecom,ißendad farsmall ports, and electric lights for the to dialect night expe<jlitio'nk; At Dunedin the artillerymen ro-, quiredsfot the; battery at the Ocean Bea.dh, may be oompejsed'?? ,■ j IL&. 5 v -

missioned officers, and men. The cost of the batteries would be L 18,000; torpedo wi. L 14,000; extra cost, L 5,000; Ocean Beach, L 3,000.