HARBOUR DEFENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 193, 15 August 1911, Page 6

HARBOUR DEFENCES.

IN EXCELLENT ORDER. SUFFICIENT FOB PRESENT NEEDS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "I have inspected all the harbour defences of the Dominion, and though exception may be takers, m some cases to the sites of the forts, I am of opinion that the existing defences are in excellent order, and are sufficient for our present needs," is the satisfactory pronouncement made by General Godley in his first report presented to Parliament this afternoon.

"The new works at Wellington and Auckland have 'been practically completed during the year. The works and armament are very vteil kept and cared for by the Royal ]S<w Zealand Artillery. The personnel of the Territorial Garrison Artillery is excellent, and will ,be able to efficiently man these defences, and 1 do not recommend that at present any considerable expenditure should be undertaken with regard to the harbour defences. *

"I consider that we should rely for the defence of the country upon an efficient mobile force rather than upon fixed defences, and that our energies and money should be devoted first and foremost to the creation of an efficient mobile territorial army. What is required rather than guns of position is an efficient mobile artillery, which can be sent to meet the possible invader, who might land anywhere round the coast. It is impossible to attempt to defend all the innumerable ports and harbours in the country, and oar best chance of dealing effectively with an invader is to go to meet him while he is landing or after he has landed."