GARRISONS FOR COALING STATIONS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7389, 15 February 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

GARRISONS FOR COALING STATIONS.

Sir John Colomb, M.P., has adress- '

Ed to the First Lord of the Admiralty a lengthy memorandum on the question of garrisons for coaling stations now under the consideration of the Admiralty and War Office. Sir John argues that the effect likely to be produced by artillery fire on moderatelydefended positions in proportion to the ammunition consumed reduces almost to a minimum the risk of attack by warships on such positions. Sir John therefore considers that we have exaggerated the risk, and overdone fortifications of coaling stations. An outbreak of war should not find our pdmirals w'thout a force at their disposal, exclusive of the complement of their shipn. Sir John's view is that they should be able to look to the colonies for producing such a force ir war. The naval contingent furnished by Australia for China illustiated on a small scale what could be done. He does not believe any colony would form a marine artillery reserve, but there would be great readiness, he believes, to form a reserve to do precisely the same work provided the force be called naval, and be dressed as blue-jackets. This policy would, he urges, produce a colonial auxiliary naval force available for the release of the peace garrisons of coaling stations in time of hostilities.