NATIONAL DEFENCE—INFORMATION WANTED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 550, 3 July 1909, Page 3

NATIONAL DEFENCE—INFORMATION WANTED.

1 Sir,-T-Krst;.pf.;all let ■me '.apologise 'for trespassing on your time, and then to i thank; you iti; ahtioipatioa for your', trouble >;-in gleaning answers to my several queries., ■ ":'.[ ■ THe\ matter, perplexing at present.'.is-'■ the seeming 'activity in : * military affairs of the Dominion: , ; It is quite noticeable m."the netfs columns /that' something is really; going to : be done invbhia branch of the Government's pro-' gramme,: and ono "almost sees the probability of a yotebejng taken i on. ; the subjectofcompulsory military training or otherwise; Quite recently the matter has again and again been made quite a point,of ■-'-in the House, 'and there almost , appears to be some , feeling of lest the matter be overlopked ; in , the excitement caused';by the-'.'- Dreadnought offer. ■■_.; Naturally one wonders'! wbai is at. the, bottom of all.this activity, so:.'will you'please try," and , .:got"sqineone'through'"' your; columns td ; explain , the 'ciuse of .the. also the'compulsory'training selieme;' /I; mean if military.' trainingV becomes- compulsory,". why: should 'it be'so?. i Are the'.men trained with 'the idea of drafting for, foreign service, or are; they-for the defence of our own shores? If tho former, of course well and good.. -Ife'lis a;■ laudable 'object. If for the latter purpose, what is the use'of them ? Is it not possible tljat an.an'nual subsidy to. the Home authorities for the maintenance of the .two-Power standard, in,the British Fleet would be more 'suitable and'.less, extravagant?';... ' ''■. ■':'- ■' ' '.Suppose a' Europeaniwar was th break out. and Britain, still enjoyed the advantage of the two-Power fleet, could any. harm' come to the colonies?;*'ls.it ndt quite feasible to think -in' such, a case that: the other Powers could hardly-afford'any their ships'to go on "marauding' expeditions to the Antipodes, are obviously weakening their home "defence, and if.'that ie to be badly knoolsed about in.; consequence of. their making; a .flying, visit:to, ano.tber.hemisphere, I think probably-they would be asked to remain at home,?' ; What do you think ?' It certainly appears as though otir-great aim and object should be to maintain^the efficiency of the British fleet, and if thatVwero done, why: ■this.idea.of our all being trained men? Qf cpurse' it. seems; probable''that artillerymen for manning; forts would be useful, but beyond that please explain: the heed for -the smalFarms...-. .'','.■ ;.'..■ .\ .; .: . 'Some people aro talkingloudly of "a navy of iour. own. How long would it "take to,constitute ono?. 'England seemingly has 'the best equipped yards of any, nation," and it takes her,-.1-.think, about two years to complete ono nrstnclnss. ship, and she does not."appear to be able to get much ahead of the demand of ships for; Her own-naval 'requirements,' so naturally one wonders where our navy would be built. It looks'almost like a foroign venture. "In fact; the whp)e .navy'idea "appears to be ridiculous. ':\ Now,'please bear mind I that I. am only'asking, for information, and plead;crass ignorance ; and'trust'implicitly' to your columns for a kindly and lucid explanation.—l am, etc., •.■,..... : ; - '.•■..■■ Y-:..--: ■'■■:■:■■■ ■""■'. v . - '.•'::■ V; '• : INQmSITIVE ■ iJune ; .2B.;. : , / ;■;'■' .. . ; -0.-.' . .■.'■.Jγ.-, ■ [Our correspondent might derive some "advantage from , a perusal ; of Lord recent speeches; on-the subject of Home .'avU cbloniel l naral defence.]: ~ '. '■ }, >