The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice, to all men, Of whatsoever state oi persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2419, 12 January 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice, to all men, Of whatsoever state oi persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 1888.

The question of perfecting the defences of the colony is seriously engaging the attention of the Cabinet, not only from the fact that it enters into the broad scheme of the defence of the Empire formulated within the last year or two by general agreement between the Imperial Government and the colonies, but also, that it is closely interwoven in the more purely domestic concern of administrative retrenchment. The " Russian Scare" which roused the whole of the British Empire to put on its armour and stand on its guard, also imposed upon the StoutVogel Government the necessity for speedily putting in effect the plan of harbour defensive works proposed by His Excellency the Governor and General Scratchley, both of them two of our most eminent military engineers. This threw upon the colony fresh, perhaps unexpected, burdens of a permanent character. The fortifications have to be maintained in a state of efficiency, and supplied with the latest effective artillery and other warlike apparatus such as electric search lights, torpedoes, &c\ Bodies of trained men, small in numbers it is true, have had to be organised for each branch of the new service in order that the forts may be manned and the guns, etc., worked by trained, disciplined men in the event of complications again seriously disturbing the concert of the i Great Powers, and our own country being dragged into active hostilities. "Very heavy responsibilities have thus been thrown upon tho Government of the colony ; we have a permanent military establishment involving an annual outlay that is a great strain upon our revenue, severely felt in the depressed siate of ihe country. Tho Ministry Hook upon it as a sacred obligation to carry out to the latter the policy of retrenchment demanded by the country find endorse*! by Parliament, and iu effectually pursuing that policy they must also reorganise the whole of the departments of the public service upon more economical principles. The system of defence entered upon by the colony must necessarily u&dergo revision in order to reduce its costliness without impairing its effectiveness, and in this the advice and suggestions of men .schooled and trained to arms aud the science of war mast bo taken, and must naturally assert * powerful influence with the Government, wjio are not authorities on such matters. We are not .surprised, therefore, to hoar a rumour, which .eonieg from Wellington, feljat a proposal is under the consideration of the Government for an entire remodelling of our existing scheme of deduce. Under the circumstances we

hiivo just given it is a most natural thing for the Government to do, and we should bo prepared to hear that they coutemplato a reorganisation that will effect a considerable monetary relief to the colonial revonuo, ]3ut rumour says the idea entertained by the Government is to disband or abolish the whole of the volunteers, and in tlmir placu procure from tho Imporiiil Government four batteries of artillery to occupy the forts, and also a regiment of rifles to bo distributed amongst tho chief centres for permanent garrison duty. It is claimed for this plan that the outlay will be" considerably lessoned, combined at the same time with more effectual measures of defence. The report, such as it is, must, however, be taken for what it is worth, though it is vory probable there is some foundation for it; and for that reason it has raised much adverse criticism and even indignation in many quarters. The abolition of tho volunteers would not meet with favour in any part of tho colony. In tho time of our past internal troubles our volunteers rendered conspicuous service in the field which a grateful country will never forget, Iu the Waikato, particularly, a proposal for their extinction would call forth n strong protest. Nevertheless, in tho present question, wo have to consider what means we possess for meeting, not irregular bands of brave, but ill-armed savages, fighting under covor of their fastnesses or bush, but highly disciplined troops of some groat military power, armed with the newest weapons of precision, moved like the most porfect mechanism, and led by tried officers who are skilled iii the latest strategical science and arts of making war. We have in our robust youth the material iy creating the finest fighting troops in the world ; but in modem war bravery and physique are not the sole essentials for winning a battle ; the skilful strategy of the commanders and rapidity of the fire and movements of their troops will gain the day. No doubt, if tho rumour is correct, it is with this view of our position that the idea has arisen to introduce a force of the splendialy trained and gallant British troops, in order that they may form nucleus for a defending army at each of our main linos of defence round which our own local but inexperienced corps could present an irresistible front to tho invader. The presence of trained reliable troops always inspires confidence and the example they would set to our volunteers, would fill them with a more enduring soldierly spirit. It is absurd to stigmatise British troops so employed in tho colony as foreign and mercenary. They would bo our own countrymen, lighting for the. defence of our common empire, and for the honour of tho same old Hag which they are sworn to defend under every clime in any part of the world. They would be no more mercenaries than are the ships of war and blue jackets of Her Majesty's _ navy which the colonies have conjointly agreed to support, and are so desirous of seeing always in their ports. The Canadian dominion has within its borders a large force of British troops, which are

a charge on its revenues. They have also their colonial troops, volunteers and militia as auxiliaries. It is doubtful, however, if the Imperial Government would enter any arrangement such as this hinted at ; and we trust the proposal will not be seriously made. It is far better for us to be selfreliant; but we. must not be so blindly confident in a strength we do not possess. Our volunteer system must not be abolished, Imt it sadly needs a thorough reorganisation. The foolish appointments of officers made by the late Government served to reduce the system to a mockery. Take the Auckland companies for instance ; the rank and file are composed of fine young fellows, but the officers are men utterly unsuited for the stern realities of an active campaign against a warlike foreign foe. The weakness in our volunteer system, speaking generally, is in its officers ami as a corrallary in its loose idea of military discipline ou rigeur. The strength of the volunteers force should be reduced and officers from the Imperial Service should be placed in command of all the batfcntions in the fortified centres, and it should be a condition of service that a certain proportion, or detachments, should always be on strict garrison duty at the forts aud lotteries, together with the men who Corn) the permanent arm of the service. „___