DEFENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8642, 4 November 1889, Page 3

DEFENCE.

TO TUB EDITOH. Sin, —1 wus pleased to sec that your reporter was able to draw General Edwards' opinion that it was ueither impossible nor improbable that a hostile expedition should Innd 5000 men on our shore 3. This has always been my opinion, and in tho many letters I have sent you ou tho subject of.dofeude during the last.three yearsj 1 have always laid, stress on this point, but hitherto I do not think anyone agreed with mo. By the general public the very idea of an invasion of New Zealand has been considered as too preposterous to be entertained for a moment; but now that General Edwards is of the same opinion, I trust the possibility of such an event will meet with the serious attention it deserves.

I have frequently pointed out that with our towns fairly defended on their 6ea face, but ! with an easily accessible and entirely uudufehded i coast on either aido, an enemy would certainly I prefer landing a forcu to knocking their heada j against forts aud big guns. I If a burglar found a house guarded in front, I its doors aud windows secured with bolts and j bars, but with the hack door simply on the i latch, ho would hardly waste his time and spoil j his tocls on tho front door, but would mako his entry through the back. Should such a contingency take placo, how are we prepared for it? By the latest accounts ! there arc about GSOO volunteers in New Zeai laud, of whom the greater part are uavals and t garrison corps. These last, together with the I permanent artillery, must remain in the towns, otherwise they would be found undefended if attacked by the enemies' ships. We would thus have only about 2000 volunteers (half of whom would bo in the 6ister island) to repel a force of from 3000 to 5000 men, as the general puts it, " all armed with the last and best infautry weapou, the best artillery arms, machine guns of all kinds, well supplied with every invention of war, disciplined to perfection, aud applied in a way to leave nothing to be desired."

The general has a pretty tough problem before him—how to have an effective army at the least cost? With unlimited expenditure there would be little difficulty in obtaining an effective army, but in this case the colony can ouly afford a limited expenditure. On the other hand, if the force is not effective for the purposes for which it is maintained—the defence of New Zealand—whether from want of men, or instruction, or both, then, whatever thn expenditure upon it mjy be, it is just wasted— clean thrown away.

G-neral Edwards has my best wishes for his success in solving this problem.—l am, &c, Chas. C. Morris, Colonel. Qtieenstown, October 31.