CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 7046, 6 October 1900, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

DEFENCE PROPOSALS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — After perusal of the Hon Richard Seddon's report on the proposed scheme of defence for the colony, the first thing that strikes one is whether the colony is justified in spending annually a sum of i>lßo,ooo on our volunteer forces and proposed Imperial Reserve. With struggling settlers crying out all over the colony for money to make roads and bridges, it certainly is appalling to think th,at it is necessary for ouv welfare to set aside such a large sum of irioney solely for the purpose of instructing our men in the art of killing their fellow creatures. But, assuming that such expenditure is necessary, and that the only method by which we can hope to maintain our freedom is by having so many experts in the art of modern warfare, one turns with interest to the report of the Commandant of our Forces to ascertain the methods he proposes to adopt to attain this end. In his report he lays stress on the importance of instruction in trench work, and mokes proposals to improve the shooting powers of the volunteers, but the most prominent feature in the report is the necessity of outdoor training and field work. He even goes so far as to say that "to obtain proper efficiency we must have more outdoor work, and, above all, a longer periodof training in camp.'* The present war in the Transvaal has .given us a practical demonstration of the immense importance of scientifically constructed trenches, and undoubtedly drill and organisation are matters of great importance, but an accomplishment that is absolutely necessary, and without which any fighting men are practically useless, is the art of knowing how to use a rifle, and instruction in this art should take preference to all others. Nearly one hundred years ago Napoleon remarked, " Shooting is the thing — everything else matters little " ; and speaking of modern warfare Lord Robertß says, "High courage, sound health, power of endurance, discipline, arganisation, and leading -under"- tLj