AUSTRALIAN DEFENCES

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7442, 16 October 1889, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCES

GENERAL EDWARDS , REPORT. SOME SWEEPING RECOMMENDATIONS. fPKR FRKBB ASSOCIATION.] Received October 15th, 1.33 p.m. Melbourne, October 15. The report of Major-General Edwards on the defences of Australia has been published. He considers the Australian colonies offer a rich and tempting prize to a hostile country, and Bays if they had to rely on their own resources as regards defence they would certainly be called upon to fight for independence, and without cohesion of power and combination the position would be one of great danger. He recommends the federation of the military forces, and to effect that New South Wales and Victoria should each furnish three brigades, and South Australia and Queensland one each, a Lieu-tenant-General to be appointed, whose duties would be to inspect these brigades in time of peace, and command them should war break out. The brigades, he considers, should be stationed to protect the coast line from Briebane to Adelaide. He favors the adoption of a system of partially paid forces, provided ttie conditions of service are as stringent as those now in force in Victoria. He would also give each of the colonies a force sufficient for present requirements. Major-General Edwards considers it moat necessary to have a uniform railway gauge, and that no general defence be undertaken unless distant points are conneoted by rail. Perth and Port Darwin, he says, off er a menace to Australia by reason of their isolated position. The isolated position of Tasmania was even more dangerous and in time of war it might be found necessary to send troops there to defend it. The numerous harbors of Tasmania offered every convenience as coal depots for an enemy. He: also recommends a uniform system of organisation, of armament for common defence, the amalgamation of forces into frontier corps, the establishment of a Federal Military College, the extension of rifle clubs, the establishment of a federal small arms factory, gun wharf, and ordnance store, In coucluaion, Major-General Edwards eaya, looking at the: present situation in Europe, the defences should at onoe be placed on a proper footing. Received October 16th, la.m. ; Sxdnbt, October 15. • Sir Henry Parkes, the Premier, in a circular letter to the other colonies, asking for a conference to meet to consider, and carry out Major-General Edwards' recommendation for a federal army, emphasizes the tatter's reference to decided action being taken without delay.