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officers (4895, 4896, 4959). The expense prevents many from joining (4933). There are a few retired Queen's officers in the force, but having, as a rule, quitted the army ten or fifteen years ago, their notions are antiquated. For drilling the men a smart young colonist makes the best officer, and, if he chooses to work, is more likely to be useful (4922- 4924). Commissions are open to all classes. Officers are elected by the men; they have to pass an examination, but it is a very light one. The system of election is bad (4925-4927). The Governor has a veto upon the choice of officers, but would not exer- cise it. Sir Arthur Kennedy does exercise some discretion in matters connected with discipline (4928- 4931).

The officer in command was formerly in the Impe- rial service. It was lately proposed to send out an officer from England to command the Queensland forces, but Parliament would not agree, thinking it hardly necessary for so small a force; it was a question of expense (4953-4956).

Inspecting Officer.-It would be of immense advan- tage to the Colonies to have an Imperial officer of high rank to act as military adviser, to inspect the different forces, to be an umpire and referee, and in time of war to assume general command. He should be an officer of artillery or engineers, and would have occupation for many years to come in superintending works of defence, besides his inspecting duties (4898, 4899, 4921). He should be a first-class man, and should be stationed in Australia for three or five years, to enable him to bring about uniformity in the various military organizations, and gradually intro- duce similarity of armament. The Colonies would all unite in bearing the necessary expense (4900-4905).

Combining Forces. It would be possible to bring the forces of the different Colonies together for short periods as soon as the railways are connected. Mel- bourne and Sydney are already connected, and the railway from Sydney to Queensland is in course of construction (4990-4993). The combination of forces would be a question of expense. In time of peace there might be some difficulty; but if war were threatening, there would be a greater chance of its being carried out. The Queensland Legislature has always acted in a fair and liberal spirit (4906–4907).

Reserve. There are a considerable number of men in the Colony who have passed through the ranks; but the formation of a Reserve has not been con- sidered (4897, 4959-4963).

Warlike Stores.-Guns have been procured through the War Department, and two 6-inch guns have lately been obtained from Sir W. Armstrong and Co. General Gallwey inspected and passed them at the request of the Colony (4982-4989). All warlike stores are at present imported from England, and there is no im- mediate likelihood of the system being altered (4910, 4911.4967). The danger is, that on the outbreak of war the Colony would be unable to procure supplies. The reserve stores are quite inadequate. It would have a good effect in Australia if this were pointed ou by the Royal Commission (4913, 4915). Solid and case-shot and common gun-carriages could be made in the Colony, and a muzzle-loading rifle has been converted to a Martini; but there is not a suffi- cient demand for warlike stores in Australia to justify the establishment of factories and arsenals (4912, 4916, 4917, 4964-4966). It would be a saving of expense to the Colony if clothing could be procured in England, through the War Office (4908, 4909).

Estimates. During the years 1877 and 1878, 32,0001. was voted for works and armaments. The money was readily voted, partly owing to the Russian scare (4968-4970). 8,000l. or 9,000l. are annually voted for the military forces, and it may be assumed that the vote will be continued (4971, 4972).

Naval Defence Questions of defence and military organization have been properly treated as national questions (4932). It is considered in Queensland, and generally throughout Australia, that by providing a laud force, and defending ports in which ships-of-war

could find shelter, or coal and refit, the colonists do their part not only on land, but also as regards naval defence (4934, 4939). It is thought that the burden of protecting colonial trade afloat should fall exclu- sively upon the Ilome Government; it would be argued that war would not be provoked by the Colonies, and that if dragged into war by the action of England, she ought to provide all naval defence (4942). It would be waste of money for the Colonies to provide ships-of-war to co-operate with the Royal navy, inasmuch as colonial trade would be carried under a foreign flag if England were at war with a great naval Power (4935, 4936). In a time of war there would be no lack of loyal spirit, but colonists would look first to the defence of their own homes (4937). What they consider principally is, that they have a coast-line of 1,900 miles, and a population at the most of 230,000 (4940). Any contribution for Imperial purposes would be regarded as the thin end of the wedge (4941).

Recognition of Colonial Troops. It would be ad- vantageous if the colonial troops could be in some way identified with the Imperial forces, and regarded as an integral portion of the troops of the Empire (4945). This might be done by designating them

The Territorial Army of Australia" (4996-5000). The whole of the troops of the Empire might be included in the Imperial army. Colonial commanding officers would then hold more defined positions, and the War Office authorities could exercise some con- trol over colonial military organization (4949). The insertion of the officers' names in the Army List, though it does not amount to much, is a step in the right direction, and gives satisfaction (4947).

Dock. There is a dock at Brisbane which will take in a vessel of 1,000 or 1,200 tons.

Works are being carried ont, and will be completed in a year or two, which will give a depth of 15 feet at low-water spring tide from the anchorage up to the town. The rise and fall of tide is 7 feet (4975-4979).

Torpedoes. The Engineer Corps contains elec- tricians, and there are skilled men in the Telegraph Department, a certain number of whom have been enrolled to work torpedoes, but there are none in the Colony who have been specially trained for torpedo work. There are torpedoes in store which would be placed in the river in case of need, and be protected by the guns in the battery at the mouth of the river (5001-5004).

May 24, 1881.

The Right Honourable Sir BARTLE FRERE, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.S.I.

Political Considerations.—The defence of the Cape Peninsula is essential not only to the defence of the South African Colonies, but of our communications with New Zealand, Australia, and, to a great extent, with India and China (5007). Many of the colonists regard the defence of the Peninsula as a question of importance to the whole Empire; but a considerable and influential section, which is more or less Repub- lican, and imbued with German ideas, look upon it as a matter that concerns England alone. They consider that France, Germany, or America might fight it out with England without its being a matter of any great importance to the Colony; that, if England wishes to keep her dominion in South Africa, it is for her to go to the expense of defending the Peninsula; and that in a war between England and a great naval Power, the colonists would do well to remain neutral or to put themselves under the protection of, say, Germany. The Republican section in the Colonial Parliament, though small, is active and intelligent, and would refuse to take any part of the burden of defence. The anti-English party has grown in influence of late years, and attempts to reconcile the Dutch-speaking population to the English Government have been counteracted by the recent action of IIer Majesty's Government in the Transvaal. There is now a strong inclination to look towards Germany (5008-5017).

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