NOT GUNS BUT MEN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1147, 7 June 1911, Page 5

NOT GUNS BUT MEN.

SOME GOOD. PLAIN SENSE. The defence of tho Bluff was referred to by Major-General Godley in a speech in the south. He said ho quite realised the importance of the harbour, and would make representations to the Government to have the port properly defended should it be necessary, lie would lileo to say at once, however, that to his mind tho best form of defence was mobile defence, which ho considered much bettor than fixed sites. They mijjht select sites for guns, and spend thousands of pounds in the purchase of guns. There would bo a lengthy delay before the guns came to hand, aiid by (lie time they wero finally installed they would probably bo ratherobsolescent. His idea was that the proper form of defence for any place was a. good mobile defence—a strong body of infantry, who could shoot well, move. quickly", and fo be able to meet the enemy at whatever place they might lie endeavouring to laud. Tho fact that the Encounter and other warships come up Bluff Harbour did not necessarily mean that an enemy's fleet would risk entering un-. known and perhaps dangerous clinnuels.