AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1911, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

«aa- -■- — THE MATTER OF ARMS. The Minister for Defence appears to derive great satisfaction from the circumstance that the machinery required is about to be placed in t'he Small Arms factory at Lithgow. Doubtless this is a subject for satisfaction when the fatuous optimism of past years is considered, but the feeling of gratification is only relative. Even when it is in full swing the factory wi,ld only be capable of turning out 15,000 rifles annually. Australia should not be content with this meagre provision. Over and above the work of this small factory the Government should obviously have reserves of <rniA and ammunition i-o equip at least 100,000 men. Those who know btot in Great Britain ar& satisfied that war cannot he much kmgar delayed. WJi'at tho actual result of the great conflict which threatens may bo upon the- Commonwealth it is impossible to say, but it is bound to profoundly affect our destinies'. If we neglect obvious precautions we cannot complain at the penalty. The shocking shortage of arms and ammunition in Australia is am invitation to the invader and tho i cemqueror.— -The Sydney Mail.