DEFENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIV, Issue 10705, 15 July 1895, Page 2

DEFENCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — A week or two ago there appeared a scheme of national defence, by “ A.J.,” in your weekly contemporary, the Canterbury Times, That scheme, which bore evidence of having been carefully thought out, had several features to recommend it. First, its cheapness; second, its simplicity; third, and most important of all, its selfevident effectiveness. In fact, judged by these standards, it has been admitted by all who have read it, to be one of the best schemes on this most important subject yet submitted to the public. It has, therefore, bean to me a matter of no little surprise, that more discussion on it has not yet appeared in your columns. The telegrams from Australia this morning, giving the views of Mr Villiors, the well-known war correspondent, on the ugly possibilities of an early war, into which Britain would almost to a certainty be dragged, give point to “ A. J.’s ” schema and his introductory remark's to it. That we are in an almost utterly helpless position here is now admitted by moat people. Shall we remain in this condition or else adopt some system, whether “A. J.’a ” or someone else’a does riot matter, which will lift us out of it P It remains for the public to make answer.—l am, &c., L.