NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14585, 23 January 1911, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

AMERICA'S UXPREPAREDNESS. Admiral Evans, writing in Munsey's Magazine on the United States' unpreparedness for war, —"When the late lamented President McKinlej' directed that an army of 100,000 men be prepared for a campaign in Cuba, it was pointed out to him that there were not- in the entire country enough small-arms cartridges to provide such an army with three rounds per man. We are assured that the case is not the same to-day; but suppose the demand were made for 200,000 men, in I addition to the regular army, what wo old the answer necessarily be? Could we supply such a force with even ten rounds per man: And if we could do so, would not common prudence dictate that the supply should be at least 100 times greater? If we admit that our volunteer soldiers are all that trained soldiers should be for active service, we are forced to the conclusion that they are very seriously handicapped by reason of shortage of ammunition, and, therefore, are not ready to defend the country in case of emergency. Small-arms cartridges are as important for the infantry branch of the army as 12in ammunition is for the navy. If the necessary amount of powder is on hand, the cartridges can be rapidly manufactured ; but it must be always kept in mind that the time needed for making powder is greater than that for the rest of the' cartridges. It seems imperative, therefore, that a full supply of powder should always be available. That such is not the case at the present time, however, is well known to all those who are interested in the subject. It may not be out of place to state just what is the prospect of obtaining the necessary powder in an emergency. Five mills, each producing 200,0001b of powder per month, would give us 1,000,0001b per month. It has been shown, that we should have on hand at least 42,000,000ib. Let us also assume that we have 10,000,0001b in store. Let us also assume that the five mills can doable their output other words, that we require 32,000,0001b, and that the mills can, at best, furnish 2,000,0001b per month. How soon would our requirements be met? It is as dangerous, in case of war, to overestimate your own resources as to underrate those of your enemy. The situation is a grave one, involving vital interests for the country. The solution of the question rests in the hands of those who represent the people."

THE POPULARITY OF CBICKET.

Going round the Melbourne reserves on a good < afternoon during a test match you may see Commonwealth Ministers, judges, the heads of churches, the leaders of- the lay professions and they all eeenx to be drawn thither by some fine moral quality lis the game. Cricket requires a good tiioal more than mere eye-and-hand training; it calls for pluck, judgment, nerve ««id resource. No other sport can be {■anted' which reacts so healthily upon the -onlookers. The loud " barracker" at football is a howling nuisance, half brute and half idiot; the "fanner '■" at baseball is a cunning and malicious wit; but the crowd at a cricket match is good-humoured, generous and appreciative. It has assembled to cheer, not to hoot. After due consideration, most people will admit that men in the mass are never more largeminded than when they are looking at a cricket match. They demand fair play for everybody. They never howl at a struggling foe, as in football or politics— two games with many bad points in common in these later days. On the contrary, the sympathy of a "cricket crowd" transfers itself swiftly, and almost unanimously, to the side which has the uphill battle to fight. Cricket is only a game. But, game or not, it has kept excellence, ; fairly attained, as its one clean and pure ideal; and there are few human occupations, sporting or serious, to which the same high" praise can be given. The scornful philosopher himself might admit that it is better to play cricket honestly, or to admire cricket honestly and pluckily played, than to applaud chicanery or condone brutality in the business of life, which most men take more seriously than their games. ■'•'• •-.