The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1897. THE PROPOSED MOUNTED CORPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 288, 11 December 1897, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1897. THE PROPOSED MOUNTED CORPS.

Jos. t__e cause that lades atsistsnee, Por the wrong that needs r_____anca, Por tha future in tho distal).-., Aad the good that tto can do.

It would be a good thing- for themselves and for the community generally if our young men would spare a little of that consideration which they now devote to athletics to the movement just initiated for the formation of a mounted volunteer corps in Auckland. We have not a word to say against athletics in themselves; on the contrary, we have alwaj's accorded such healthful sports our most hearty' approval. But at the same time it is impossible not to see that the too: exclusive cultivation of football, cricket and field sports generally has been one of the chief hindrances to volunteering in the colony. The comparative neglect of the latter does not very greatly distress anybody iv these piping days of peace, but there may easily come a time when we shall all regret the apathy we have shown, and sincerely wish we had devoted a little more of our spare time to soldiering. It is said in many quarters that tbe. unpopularity of the volunteer movement is due to the lack of support given it by the Government. That there is something in this no one denies, but speaking broadly it is a lame excuse. If our young men were at all enthusiastic in the matter, we would hear much less of this complaint about the inadequacy of the financial aid voted by the Government. There would be something of the same readiness on the part of the men to put their hands in their own pockets as the devotees of yachting and cycling and other sports display. But if volunteering were taken up in a whole-hearted way, there would be little need for any severe drain on the private resources of the men. Both the Government and the people of the colony would be certain to g-ive generous support to a movement of such importance if it was clear that it engaged the interest of

our young men. Their earnestnes.. would compel support.

'.Many are the suggestions which have been-made for the popularising of volunteering in the colony—especially for enlisting the sympathy of that numerous class'of young men who have fair salaries, a fair amount of leisure, and whose daily occupations favour the devotion of that leisure to physical exercise. The question is: What can be done to render a volunter corps attractive to that class? The most' likely of all the proposals we have heard is tbe formation of a smart mounted corps. It has been said that iv the love of horseflesh, innate or developed, in tbe colonial youth, lies tbe hope of volunteering here. And we are inclined to think that in a city like Auckland a welh organised and attractively uniformed body of horse would soon become very popular. Again, such a force is especially the one that would be most useful in time of emergency. At present there are three corps of Cavalry in the colony: one in the Wanganui district, another in Canterbury, and a third in Dunedin. We have also eight corps of mounted infantry. But, as Colonel Pole-Penton pointed out in his last report, it is very desirable that an increase should be made in this arm of the service. He considers that Auckland is very weak in this respect, consider-ing-the length of the coast line the district would be called on to defend—_• for it must be borne in mind.that in war time no help could be spared from other districts — and be advocates the formation of several corps here. Unquestionably a few hundred efficient mounted men could render signal service in.case of a descent on our coasts. The opinion that they would never be required to act so longas Our forts were in good order is perfectly erroneous. To quote Colonel Pole-Penton's words, 'the volunteers will have to be _-eliecl on for tbe whole of the active defence of the colony. It is not to be expected that when attacking an enemy would run his ships past the forts and mines while they were intact, but rather w rould try to land a force to capture the forts before running his ships in. The nature of much of the countrj r precludes the operation of cavalry, and even if itwere not. so, the probable conditions under which an enemy would attack would be better met by mounted rifles. In New South Wales, where the country is much more suitable for cavalry, the superiority of mounted rifles over that arm is strongly advocated by military authorities. Major General French in his latest report on the military forces of Neyv South Wales discusses the relative advantages of the different bodies, and adduces technical reasons in favour of the mounted rifles. What is wanted is a force of able marksmen who are at- home in the saddle, and can be quickly transferred from one place to another as the circumstances of the attack may determine.

The enormous responsibilities in

the .way of making provision for defence which tbe world-wide Empire of Great Britain impose on "the Mother Country should make it very clear to any thinking mind that solicitude for the protection of the colony is not misplaced at this time. Attentive readers of the Home papers are aware of the strong agitation now going- on in England for a reform of our military system; and those who rely on the cablegrams for news of what is passing at Home must have noticed that fears are entertained as to the efficiency of the army. The latest proposal for increasing its

strength, is that of Lord Charles Beresford, published in our columns this evening. Lord Charles recommends , the adoption, of a three. years' t service system, so as to secure a large reserve. The present short- term of service provides for seven years in the army and five in the reserve, so that the suggestion involves a very radical alteration. But these changes are suggestive of others of another character. A recent writer in the 'Speaked,' discussing the necessity for maintaing a strong reserve, points out the difficulties in the way of getting men which are already beginning to be apparent. The conclusion which he arrives at is that Great Britain is now within measurable distance of conscription. The new rules issued in connection with the volunteer forces at Home indicate that the Com-mander-in-Chief recognises the necessity that at present exists as it never did before for securing a high standard of efficiency in that body. In future all appointments to the permanent staff of volunteer corps, instead of being made, as hitherto, by officers in command of the regimental districts will' be made directly by the War Office. It has also been arranged that non-commissioned officers attached to volunteer corps shall attend at their regimental depots for a week's drill and general instruction each year, in order to bring their methods up to date. It is impossible to watch these changes without feeling that the time is not very far off when we here in the colonies may have to make much more adequate provision on. our own part for the protection of the portion of the Empire in which we live. And, at the same time, it is equally evident that the best and cheapest provision we can make is the extension and perfecting of our volunteer system. In view of .this, we commend to the earnest consideration and support of the young, men of Auckland the present movement for the formation of a mounted corps.