A RAIDER SCARE.

NERVES IN AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, April 24. A couple of days ago a man, selling the noon editions of the evening papers, stood m Castlereagh street bawling "Raiders off the Queensland coast." The rush for papers nearly carried him oft' his feet; and iwhen the purchasers of his wares found not a line abo-ut a raider anywhere, they just grinned and, m the strange. Australian way, seemed more in-l clined to commend his enterprise than damn his dishonesty. At the moment Australia is suffering an attack, of nerves m the matter of raiders, and any old story is accepted and sent wildly circulating. Certain definite signs of uneasiness m official circles, and certain things which cannot be hidden from the people, have given color to the wildest rumors. There is "something doing" — but nothing to justify the excited stories of an imminent enemy attack on Australia which are now current. But perhaps it is best to recite, m their order, 'the already published chain of events which have led. up to this condition of public -perturbation. First of all came the strange stories from certain, coastal districts of western Victoria of an aeroplane or aeroplanes flying over m- the earty morning. A baker at Toora, for instance, leaving his bakery between. 4 and 5 a.m., saw a large a-reopk-n© circling close over the town, and over Poft Franklin. It manoeuvred for an hour, and then departed seawards. The baker's statements were confirmed by other witnesses. People at Casterton, on another day, reported a similar occurrenos. It could not be established that any Australian aeroplanes were m these districts at these times. Then came repoi-ts of aeroplane? and strange lights on or near the coast between Melbourne and Sydney, and h whole crop of rumors, .oased on certain events of which the censorship forbid? mention.

Yesterday morning the Sydney Daily Telegraph published the following: — "Melbourne, Monday.-- Within the past 48 hours information has c ome to hand which points to the probability that the realities c-f war will soon be brought before Australia m the most convincTng fashion. Steps have been token by tlio Defence authorities to cope with a situation, (which, may at any moment assume grave proportions. More thaai this cannot be said for tire present." Nairnally, the public • fairly seethed with, ex citement; but this statement, m tho noon editions, - allayed the general anxiety .: "A snipping firm, fearing for the safety of its steamers, enquired of a high naval authority as to whether it would be wise to adhere to its saildng list. The firm was assured that it need have no fear for its vessels, and consequently it will ran them as usual. Otliei; information tending to show that the rumors are without foundation was supplied. Enquiries of other shipping firms showed that not one single sailing had been cancelled." ;

• . The latest development appears m the following statement m this morning's newspapers: The following official statement was made by tho Minister for Defence yesterday:.. Referring to certain i-umors of a disqtrieting character which were m, circulation, Senator Pearoe today stated that' there was nothing that need alarm the public, but it had been thought advisable to take certain action of a precaufc'onai-y nature to prevent any interference with our shipping. . Various ala-rras m the matter of raiders, and tlie critical situation 'm Europe, has brought up the general question of the defence of Australia. The Commonwealth po.ssessesi no standing army or organised civilian force, and the ranks of its manhood have "been largely depleted by enlistments for service abroad. The Australian warships arc not m. Australian, waters, and Australia's military strength is concentrated m .Europe and Asia.*, The enemy aliens interned m Australia' more than outnumber the military forces availsfllJo m the Commonwealth. That the Government views the matter with, some uneasiness iwas indicated by the Minister of Defence m a statement last week.^ He said that the whole defence posntiaitfof Australia was extremely Xinsatisfactoory, and the Ministry proposed- .to strengthen it ; for" no man could see the outcome "of the war, and we might yet have to fight m- Australia. It -was proposed tt> incnease the strength of the citizen forces by enlisting men between the ages of N 2l and 50, who were not eligible for active service.

Military circles expected more important action. It is believed that the Ad-jutant-General has a scheme prepai'ed for the mobilisation of two divisions* of home service troops— 4o,ooo men. * Part of Ihia force would consist of citizen tramees and 1 the b^ance (would be men not available for service abroad. Thd'e two divisions woniM be trained" on a war footing for a short period, and then kept available for immediate mobilisation m case of an emergency . arising. Tho present Defence s Act. gives the Government power to call up men in 'this way.

But military circles are likely to be disappointed. They did riot expect compulsion for servico abroad, but they, did think that men would be compelled to provide a couple of divisions at least for horn© defence. The anti -compulsion-fits won all along the line at the recruiting conference last week, and now only volunteers are called for, to build up a small home army. Certain possibilities make that home army quite tv necessity but apparently it is to 'bo built up with all the muddling and expense that marked the creation of the armies now abroad Christohurch Press.