COLONIAL DEFENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 7166, 21 March 1887, Page 2

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

[Special to the Star.]

WELLINGTON, March 21

In reference to the appointment of a Defence Committee, as recommended in the secret despatch from the War Office, the ‘Post’ says;—“Wo do not think our Government have as yet decided whether to comply with the recommendation or not; but we presume they will do so, and of course if the Committee is composed of permanent officers its coat would not be very groat. The Defence Minister would nominally be the president; and Majorgeneral Whitmore, Captain Douglas, and Major Boddam are the names which at once suggest themselves as suitable members A fifth might be found in the person of Lieutenant-general Shaw, a distinguished Imperial engineer officer now on a visit to New Zealand, and likely to remain here for some months at least; or Lieutenant-general Stewart, a retired artillery officer of high standing, who is settled in Tauranga. General Shaw filled for a time the position formerly occupied by Sir William Jervois as deputy inspector of fortifications, and General Stewart was instructor and lecturer on artillery practice at one of the military colleges. His Excellency Sir William Tcrvois could not, we suppose, act as a member of the Committee, but his advice and assistance could, wo are sure, always be relied on, and Major Jervois would make a valuable member or an admirable secretary. The duties of the Committee would be various, and mainly of a strictly secret and confidential character. Probably their first step would bo to have proper topographical maps prepared of the country around the chief ports, so that complete plans of defence might be arranged for each. The possible landing places of a hostile force and its probable line of advance on the forts or towns would have to be considered, and the vantage points at which the local troops could meet them determined on, the situation and character of the entrenchments indicated, and instructions given to each commanding officer, so that he might know what he and his men would be called on to do in case of a sudden emergency. An intelligent system would also have'to be arranged so that warnings of the approach of the enemy might bo quickly given, and the Committee would have to see that arrangements were made that a supply of entrenching tools and munitions were provided and commissariat arrangements made so that the men might not be called into the field without any provision for feeding them. These and a thousand and one other matters of detail would engage the attention of the Committee, so that if an emergency arose there would be little or no confusion in placing the ports of the Colony in an efficient state of defence, with every man properly equipped and at his proper post. The Committee would also be in communication with the Committees of other colonics on matters where co-operation in defence would bo possible. A committee ot this kind concentrating its attention on the subject could attend to details and perfect plans much more completely and promptly than any Government department or military officer acting singly.