CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2550, 10 July 1909, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all - times, but it must bo distinctly understood that this journal is in no way associated with tho opinions of its correspondents. All letters must be legibly written ’and inscribed on one side oU the paper-only, otherwise they will riot bo published. *An asterisk at tho foot of a letter indicates t.luit some portion has been excised. 1

COASTAL DEFENCE

[To The Editor.]

Sir, —At this time defence is a subject which is agitating the public mind’ considerably, and various suggestions have been made as to how to .place the Dominion in a position to resist a possible invader. Compulsory military, training appears to be a certainty” in the near future, though in the present condition of our coast defences we could get no practical benefit from any defence force that we could organise. It is generally held, by those qualified to speak, that war between Britain and Germany is' practically a certainty within a few years, and that the field of operations will most probably he in the English Channel and the North Sea. In the event of an enemy’s squad.ron or even a single warship being despatched to ; these; waters, what adequate resistance' could we .offer to any demands that might be made on us ? Our harbor defences are absolutely useless agaipst an up-to r dato warship sucli as we should have to face. If an enemy steamed into Auckland or Wellington harbor and made a demand on the. Treasury, for money, under threat of bombardment; of what uso would our defence forces be ? If the enemy chose to make a landing under cover of their guns, we would not be in a position to prevent them. In the event of the enemy sending a sufficient force to hold our four- largest ports, would we not be in as bad a plight as though the whole Dominion were occupied ?' Should not the forts which command tho entrances to our harbors be armed with guns that could prevent a hostile ship from getting within striking distance of our cities The present obsolete armaments should be replaced with tho latest pattern of gun obtainable. Until that is done, we are at the mercy of any enemy -who may come along. The improvement of our coast defences is the most pressing need of the hour, and it is the Government’s duty' to take tho matter in hand at once.—l am, etc., * “BRITON.