SIR IAN HAMILTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 284, 4 May 1914, Page 5

SIR IAN HAMILTON.

DEALS IT OUT TO ANTI MILITARISTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Ohristdhurohi Saturday NJght. General Sir lan Hamilton visited Lyttelton this morning and witnessed some shooting by No. 4 Company, New Zealand Garrison, Artalleryj under Captain J. <i. Evale, with 6-inch Armstrong breech-loading gun, th« shot used being lOOlbs. A practice target representing the lengtii of a torpedo boat was towed by tihe s.s. Guan, and although a strong south-wester was blowing, the shots, of which ten were fired, seemed to one standing behind the gun to be perfect in direction.

Before joining the train to town, the General, with his staff, paid a visit to the King George Seamen's Institute. A Mayoral luncheon to General Hamilton took placo in the Chamber of Cont merce Hall at 1 p.m. Replying to his toast, General Hamilton said he hud read that day in a newspaper a cable from England, saying that Rev. Mr. Spurr, of Melbourne, Quid observed at a meeting in England with, regard to military preparations in Australiaithat amateur soldiers, could do nothing against the overwhelming- odds which foreign nations migilit bring against thev.i, a:>d that the tiling wan (juile hopeless, or words to that efleat. He Jiad no doubt tihat the Rev. Mr. Spun- was a man of very fine ideals, but that particular sentiment ho uttered was a very miserable sentiment. It was not at all in accord with the ideas of tho old Covenantors, and was not. at all in accord with what we were told in the Bible about the action of Gideon. He did not take much account of mere numliers. He first of all gave Ms men a good excuse to get away, and '22,<K)O availed themselves of the offer.

leaving 10,(100. He still thought some of these 10,000 might he a hit i-ihaky, ami lie introduced another test, whereby lip might get rid of any fellows 'whose hearts were not in the business. Tlnit brought .him down to 300 men. The otheir side, we Were told, consisting of Mid'iajiiles and Amelokites,"nnd nil the children of the East, .lay along in a valley like grasshoppers.* These 300 fellows, howeveii, by bringing intelligence to hear, which, he hoped was still possessed by our own Western civilisation, smote that multitude ihip and thigh. (Apphvuse). The counting of mere numbers was not an ennobling sentiment. H was the spirit prevailing that counted, and that was why, rather than mentioning practical movements, he had referred to the dheery way in which men here had carried out their work. That was a good sign to go by, for that was the, spirit which would beat the aggressor,' quite irrespective of whether .lie other side .hiul overwhelming odds or not. (Loud applause).

CADETS REVIEWED. Christchurch, Last Night, General Sir lan Hamilton inspected a parade of cadets yesterday afternoon in wet weather, and afterwards attended a welcome given by the Scottish Society, and dined with the members of the' Christchurch, Club in the evening. He left to-day for Nelson.