THE VICTORIAN DEFENCES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1761, 10 July 1888, Page 3

THE VICTORIAN DEFENCES.

;• vf Melboubne, July 5. """ The intelligence of the.silencing of the cable brought about what has been altogether wrongly Renominated a war scare. The Age published sensational articles on the subject, de claring;that the Governor had received a private confidential message from Admiral Fairfax, and that a council of war had been held at Government House. ,;There was no truth in either of the statements. The real fact was that when the news arrived on Saturday the Minister of Defence, Sir Jas. Lorimer, and the Premier, Mr Gillies, discussed the circumstances, and bearing ia mind the fact that the interruption of the cables under these peculiar circumstances was exactly what might be anticipated in the ©rent of any attack upon the Australian ports being meditated, it occurred to them that the opportunity was an excellent one for testing the capabilities of the defence force in the event of an actual war scare at any time occurring. It was also felt that this might have a good effect in the way of allaying any fears that might be aroused by the peculiar circuaistanceitof the cable being broken simultaneously at two points, and by an assumption that the double breakage must have been the result of the work of some designing enemy. These considerations induced the Premier and Minister of Defence to take the somewhat unusual step of putting the , whole of the permanent naval forces into the vessels of the fleet, the permanent artillery into the forts, and reinforcing each branch with men from the Naval Keserve, and Militia, and Garrison Artilleryrespectively. Practically the precautions taken are very much those which, would be observed in the event of hostilities being actually apprehended,, except that the wider course of calling out the militia by proclamation : would be followed, and every efficient %iember would then bo required to. present himself for service, w while' present instance no com- ' kind is exercised, save fin thecases of permanent naval and garrison forces. The result of the ..sudden call to arms is considered highly satisfactory. The Minister of Defence terms it a splendid success. The troops are to be kept at the Heads for a week. The costs of the entire experiment will be a mere bagatelle—dnly about £2OO a day, and will be entirely .defrayed out of the ordinary defence vote.