DEFENCE.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3988, 7 May 1878, Page 3

DEFENCE.

TO TUB BDITOB OF THB PBBSS.

Sib,—lt is to be hoped that the communication upon the subject of the defence of the colony, which appeared in the " Lyttelton Times" of the 4th instant, did not emanate from the Government; for though it is right that wa should be thankful for small mercies, and though the prospect of having the requisite guns in the colony is more satisfactory than knowing that they have to be procured, still it seems incredible that such a plan of operations as detailed in the "Times " could have emanated from a Government containing in its number two soldiers, and one sailor. I shall, therefore, not assume that the' Government intentions have been correctly explained. If we are really to have guns, I suppose two months and a-half will see them out in the colony. Your correspondent " Oak Leaf " has pointed out the absurdity of delaying the construction of the batteries and the enrolment of the requisite artillery men till they arrive. From eighty to 100 men will certainly be required to man the batteries, which number will be entirely over and above Captain Craig's present force, and independent of all other arms of the volunteers. We shall also requiretrained non-commissioned officers —one probably for each port—to instruct the men in their duties. What I wish to suggest is that the Government should be moved by one of the local corporations specially interested in the matter, first, to I a; ply for Colonel Scratchley's services at ■ once, as it is not probable he could be spared 1 if war had once been declared. Secondly, to secure the services of a sufficient number of non-commissioned officers for the training of our artillery-men. In the case of Tasmania, Sir William Jervois suggested the employment of non-commissioned officers of the Royal Artillery. He would no doubt have recommended the adoption of the same course in New Zealand; but until they or some other efficient instructors are procured, perhaps we could obtain the assistance temporarily of officers from one of the men of war on the station. Thirdly, to provide about 500 Snider rifles, with ammunition, tor each port to be defended by guns. The Snider v a good weapon, obtainable m England easily, and at a cheap rate, and the supply could be landed here as quickly as the guns. Aj to the raising of the force lot working

J the guns, I would suggest that men who have : already served in the volunteer force, but ! have left it, should be invited to volunteer again for this special service. There are a , large number of men here who have been, in i former times, very fairly drilled, and who I were well up in the use of the rifle. These wo'.dd be sooner "drilled into shape" than ! new men, and I think, under certain conj ditionß, no difficulty would be found in raising j the requisite number. I would not allow men j to volunteer from either of the present corps; every man now enrolled will be required, in ! the event of war, to co-operate with or pro- | tect the batteries from the possibility of a land attack, and the best thing they can do will be to increase their own efficiency to the utmost. In advocating however an appeal to old volunteers, I wish to make it quite plain that I do so in full agreement with the following extract from a recent number of the " Saturday Review":—" Time has shown that there exists a large number of young Englishmen who are perfectly willing to submit to discipline if they can once persuade themselves that it is genuine and not a Bham discipline. It is the laxity not the severity of the volunteer service which repels this class of recruits; and it is unnecessary to say that this is precisely the class of recruits the volunteer service wants. If it were generally understood that to be a volunteer involved a man in no personal outlay beyond that of time, and further that it implied the observance, when on duty, of every military regulation, the «ffi:iency, if not the numbers, of the force would ba greatly increased." Though I can no longer call myself a young Englishman, if men be wanting I should be quite willing to serve again, provided the discipline be genuine and not a sham. This I know to be the feeling of a large proportion of old volunteers, and without the observance of this condition I believe good men will not be obtained. If my suggestion as to volunteering be acceptable to the public, a very few days would suffice to enrol a force which would be a credit to any part of the British dominions. I am, &c, R. J. S. Habuan. May 6fch, 1878.