DEFENCE OF THE COLONIES.
Londoh, March, 10. la the course nt a papar which he read at the Colonial Institute, Major General Edwards, K.C.M.G,,, said that if Great Britain loses the maritime supremacy of ipe-wo,rld, grass may be grown in the street's of London, Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington. A fl«t tied to Australian waters not properly defend the coloniep, »nd they,ought to be able tp invite,assistance of ithe China and the FacifiorPq«adrops. Be suggested that the Australian militia should co-operate with a national navy in capturing enemies on the Paeifiu and Indian Oceans, and % he tbonght the colonis's, who were good' rjfleruen and trained to'fight in the bush, would pe admirably fitted for . such . expeditions. ,He believed that after Australia federated an Imperial : Congress ought to consider a national defence policy, which might possibly result in the federation ov groups of colonies for the purpose of defence. March 11. , After the reading of General Edwards' paper at the Colonial. Institute Sir William Jervois oloimed that General Edwards' scheme was identical with his advice in 1880. Raids on Australia were improbable, especially on a large scale. The sote land defences required were fore-s at the capitals and Thursday Islands, which should ba under Federal control. He claimed credit for advising the doubling of ths Australian naval forces in 1881.
Sit Chales Uilke, who also spoke on the Btirijeot, thought that light cruisers would frequently attack Australia. The security of coaling stations was not yet perfect, and it would be advisable to garrison them before the war broke out,
Lotd Brassey said that much remained to be done in the way of providing garrisons for coaling stations. Colonial troops would often be able to assist the Imperial fleet. After the Sydney convention was over it would be desirable to bold a conference in London on the subject of defence, General Edwards in replying said that each coaling station oould db ready at six hours' notice, so far os its own resources were concern^,
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Temuka Leader, Issue 2175, 14 March 1891, Page 1
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331DEFENCE OF THE COLONIES. Temuka Leader, Issue 2175, 14 March 1891, Page 1
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