DEFENCES OF NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11280, 25 January 1900, Page 5

DEFENCES OF NEW ZEALAND

[BY TELEGRAPH— COIUIKSrONDEVT.] Wellington, Tuesday, An ex-voluntoer officer, who'states that Ik wnc a supporter of tlio Government at the last election, writes to the Post on the above subject, and evidently with considerable knowledge of the position. In reference tc tho Premier's statement that ho intends tc procure more volunteers, tho cx-officei says:—"The sooner he takes stepr to pro cure thorn the bettor, as it takes a gooc: 12 months to instruct men so that they ma.v be serviceable if called out. Further, thej should bo armed will) magazine rifles similai to thine which might bo brought against them by any invader. If our arms are nol equal to tlmso of the enemv, wo ccrtainlj would havo a poor show of defeating them Wo require at least 5000 such rifles tc make us safe. Could we muster 5000 now il required ''" Tho writer goes on to ask t few pertinent questions regarding anuria nition for email arms. "Have wo," he asks "nifiieient to stand a three months' cam paign, and havo wo waggons and horses tc convoy war material from place to place il suddenly called upon ? If we are so well supplied ne we are told wo uro, what about the paragraphs which I have lately soon tc the offecl that arms and accoutrements from other corps have been taken to fit out oui contingents '! This docs not look as if we were very abundantly supplied. Again with referenco to the artillery, we are told that the long-range guns of the navnls were of great i assistance at Udysmith. If we should un-1 luckily get shut up in Wellington in a simi- I lar manner, have we any such guns to lisa i in defence without robbing our naval forts ? ' Wo may not see any immediate use for such guns, but it would be far safer if tho colony hud some heavy lorcr-rancrß siego guns, bocause it is certain that if we should ever be invaded it could only bo by the enemy having command of tho sea for it time, in which crbo tho colony would bo left to its own resource!, and have great difficulty in importing war material. Our Field Artillery is also open to much improvement. The projectiles are onlv 61b instead of 151b, nnd they only carry 4000vds instead of 60C"-'ds: and the wheel* of both guns and li ..hers are none too strong for rough country. Tho Wellington battery is not supplied with trainee! horses, but such as are used in lorries, nnd there are about eight pels of regulation harness where there should bo at least 36 When other hnniMS is required it is, I am told, rather a job lot. There are no ammunition waiffnns. but I suppose in active service we should have to utilise dreys, etc."