IMPORTANT LETTER FROM LORD CARNARVON.

West Coast Times, Issue 6622, 28 October 1887, Page 4

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM LORD CARNARVON.

Before starling on bis colonial tour Lord Carnarvon addressed tbe following important letter on the defence of our commercial poits and coaliDg stations to tbe Times It created quite a small eeneation. Colonial readers will find it interesting for several reasons. He sajß : Fir6t, as to our commercial ports. At tbe commencement of tbe session their condition, as I stated in your columns, was almoßt, if not quite, defenceless ; and that dangerous and discreditable state remains unaltered. The Tyne, with the great manufactory at Elswick, the Clyde, with its great shipbuilding and r- fitting yards, are without protection ; while the Mersey, with the wealth of Liverpool, has only the so-called defence of some old 38ton gun?. There is indeed, so far as lam aware, in no commercial port a single heavy gun, mounted, of modern pattern. Every officer and expert of experienceworse still, every foreign Government— mows this; while the recent naval manoeuvres made this at least clear : that, under conditions most favorable to defence, English ports can be surprised by a hostile fleet. If Parliament, absorbed, in every other subject under Heaven except the old fa9hiomd duty of providing for national defence, will do n/ thing, tnen I believe tbat our great commercial ports would, if the matter were placed fairly before them, do much for themnelves by voluntary effort. But, however thi9 may be, it is Simple madness in tbe doubtful Btate of European politics, and •with, our full knowledge of the pitiless consequences of modern warfare, to leave towns in which our wealth, and strength lie stored at the mercy of a daring cruiser. Next, as to our foreign stations. They consist of two classes — first, of the Imperial coaling stations where British communities have grown up for trading and other purposes; second, of great colouies, such as New South Wales and Victoria nhexo England. In all the fulness

of her raoo and language end Institutions has been transplanted across the seas. Let me say a few words on each of these, where such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Mauritius, a division of expense as regards tbe defences has been agreed to. The local community undertook to erect the works or to provide the money for them, while the Imperial Government engaged to supply the armaments. Theee communities have, as a rule, performed their part of the ontract ; we have in every case left our share unperformed, either wholly or itt part. Each of the three important stations which I have mentioned — each essential to the protection of our vast commerce, and to the security of our fleets— each in their different degrees, essential to our supremacy in the Eastern seas, remains unfortified, because we have not yet sent out the armament which we engaged to provide. For this discreditable and dangerous oondition I have sometimes heard the excuse set up that the manufacture of modern armai ments is so slow that two years are needed for the construction of a gun with its proper moun ; ings, A melancholy apology. If the manufacture is so slow, the guns should have been ordered as soon as it was known that Singapore or Hongkong or Mauritius was prepared to do the works or to give the money ; instead of which, in order to save financial appear* ances and to gain a false credit for economy on the Estimates, we have made or allowed delays in giving the necessary orders to the manufacturers. More than this — even tbe auxiliary armaments, those machine and quick-firing guns which are absolutely necessary in modern war, which, even without the heavier guns, might for purposes of defence have an a'most incalculable ralue, and which can be procured and sent out at once, are, probably for the same reason, subjected to the same fatal delay. They have not been sent out. I might, perhaps, ask if they are even ordered ? The fault of all this is with us. Our endless committees that too often decide nothing, our undue centralisation here, our want of pro-, per individual responsibility there, the absence of that combination of administrative knowledge and authority which is very graphically described by Sir J. Stephen's recent commission; and productive delays, errors, waste, and danger here, as in many other parts of our cumbrous system. Forts are use'oss without tbe guns; torts and guns are valueless without the trained garrisons to put in them; and I may add tbat even forts, guns, and garrisons together are unequal to the work of defence if they are not combined and supplemented by the scientific requirements of .modern war. Yet, such in a great measure is onr practice, and we are led into it by that false economy— fruitful parent of public waste — which too often suggests to Ministers tbe fatal temptation ot reducing estimates by delaying the manufacture of armaments. Thus, forts built at great coat, stand use* less for want of the necessary guns, or guns are transferred to some place where they are wanted from another place where they cannot be spared. Meanwhile, in contrast to these sorry shifts, some at least of our great colonies across the sea, taking a truer measure of public duties and requirements, have set us an example which may — according a? we think of them or ot ourselves — fill us either with admiration or shame. Without aid from us they have manfully faced tbe trouble and the outlay which are the insurance3policieß that nations must pay for safety from hostile aggression. In Victoria and New South Wales a navy has been created, first-class wojks buiit, armaments of the newest type mounted ; while in Australia generally a total sum, I believe, of not less than £5,000,000 has been spent upon defence.