LORD KITCHENER'S VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14306, 28 February 1910, Page 12

LORD KITCHENER'S VISIT.

WHAT WILL HE SAY?

It is gratifying to know that Lord Kitchener, during his visit to New Zealand; ha* been paying special ;:'attention to the matter of harbour defence.'When: inspecting the so-called ".forts" in the' South, it it is not; at 1 all surprising to learn that at Dunedin he ..took more interest in the men than in the guns, because at Dunedin the armament includes such curios as muzzleloaders. What he will say when he finds that Auckland, which is to be the naval base, only possesses two guns worth mentioning can readily be imagined, and he will, no doubt, make; strong recommendation for extensive alterations and the installation of modern and powerful ordnance. •' It will be remembered that Lord Kitchener,-; when in .Sydney, < : was reported to have asked why there was not a fort oh North' Head? Tire reyly, so the story goes, was that the authorities were afraid of put-" ting a fort there because it r was so isolated from the rest of the defences, and ; could be easily cut-off and taken, and its ; guns turn-: ed against Sydney. Lord Kitchener is said to have . answered that if an enemy could get there and take the , fort an enemy could still more easily, land there i when there was no fort, and could bring guns there and turn them on Sydney. . ■ ■ * , ./, i

It will be interesting, as well as import; ant, to learn what Lord Kitchener has to say regarding .the fortification of Rarigitoto, seeing that the New Zealand Defence authorities have held that such would be a risky experiment,: the , same as the Sydney authorities held in .regard to North Head. Lord Kitchener's report regarding the harbour defences of New Zealand, and particularly, those of the port of Auckland, will, in all probability be considered a : confidential document, ; arid its contents , will not, be disclosed, but whatever the; Field-Marshal's recommendations are the public > should insist/ (in view of the policy which has been displayed in the matter of harbour defences in the past) on Lord Kitchener's recommendations being, carried out.