COLONIAL DEFENCES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1926, 6 August 1889, Page 1

COLONIAL DEFENCES.

Melbourne, August 2. Major-General Edwards, who is now; engaged inquiring into the efficiency of the colonial defences and military forces, 1 argues emphatically in favor of a strong' navy, the policy of Australia being in' bis estimation, to bold the enemy at! arm's length. The first line of defence; should be inoreased by seven new vessels.! This would probably make the colonies seoure for ten years, when it would be: time enough to think of forming nn\ Australian navy, to be supported by thej colonies alone. Coming to the second line of defence, namely, coast batteries, General Edwards thinks little remains' to be done, the harbor defences being complete. Concerning the third line, he is opposed to the volunteer force strictly so called, because the whole expense is, borne by the men in addition to giving, their services. A partially-paid militia, he thinks, is a good institution, and he favors a medium between a paid and an unpaid force, whose mainspring shall be patriotic defence, while the men composing it are idemnifiad for the actual expense they incur. The General explains that an essential to the object of his visit is to lay the foundation of a comparative system of defence for the wholo of the colonies.