The evening times., 1900-05-11
SOLDIERS OF AUSTRALIA.
The system of Militia Tn yogue In
the Sixth Continent

the Sixth Continent.
The proved efficiency OF the troops so
patriotieally sent by the Australian colo
nies to South Africa naturally imparts con-
siderable interest TO the subject OF Aus
tralian military defence. which is rapidly
acquiring an importance little imagined a
few years ago. Pending the establishment
OF Federal Government. each colony has
its own system. independent Of the others.
although conducted on somewhat similar
lines In New South Wales defence forces
consist OF permanent troops. partially paid
troops. volunteers. and naval volunteers.
The actual strength Of the military forces
of the colony on December 81. 1888. was T.
222 of all ranks. making. with about 1900
rife club Teseryists. a total OF S.722 men
The permanent force numbered 7S7 men Of
ali ranks. the headquarters stan and ord
nance stan being located in Sydney. The
Army Service Corps. Medical Stan Corps
and Submarine Miners are all stationed in
and volunteer troops consisted Of SAB men
Of all ranks. exclusive of the honorary stan
OF ehsplains and medical officers
The partially-paid troops include the va
rious corps Of Lancers. Mounted Rifles.
Field Artillery Garrison Artillery. Field
Engineer. Submarine Mine Engineers.
Electric Engineers. Infantry. Army Service
Corps. and Army Medical Corps. The vol
unteers comprise regiment of Australian
Volunteer Horse and several corps OF in
fantry. including the National Guard. s..
Georges Rifles. Scottish Rifles, and Irish
Rifles Volunteers are admitted between
the ages Of eighteen and forty years Pay
is granted all ranks according to a sliding
scale. gunners. sappSrs. and priyates re-
ceiving S. for each whole day parade As.
for half day parade. and IS. for night
parade In addition to these sums every
volunteer who passes through the musketry
course and qualities as a marksman is
granted rs: and IL he should qualify al
the end OF the year as an efficient a further
sum OF Il l2s.. unless he is granted e.
/ for efficiency and e. 1ss- for extra prof.
cheney.
With view TO assisting the operation OF
the Australian squadron. II so desired. the
colony has enrolled II its service two bod
les Of naval volunteers. who receive a
small annual payment. and who would
prove very useful as a reserve from which
crews could be partly drawn for the three
vessels OF The Auxiliary squadron which are
laid up In times OF peace The first OF these
bodies IS the Naval Brigade which Wa
enrolled in 1868. II consists largely OF
tIme-expired searaen OF the RoyaI Navy.
discharged from the ships On the Australian
station At the present time there are 20
facilities for drilling the men az sea. and in
the m2neuvTes hitherto carried out they
have mostly been employed ss a light ar
uliery land force. The brigade consists
OF six companies. comprising 90 officers
and men The other arm Of the naval
service is known as the Naval Artillery
Volunteers TIE meE are trained in he
use Of the torpedo. and would be found
servlceabie for the defence OF the harbOr
should hostile feet eyade OF overcome
the British aud Australian war vessels The
corps Members % o.aeers and men. There
are also couple OF torpedo boats eff
CieItly manned
Events in South Africa have done much
toward deVelOpiEg the military spirit
Throughout the colony and recently NJ
Lyme. the New South Wales Premier.
pointed out that up 20 the present il had
sent 10 South Africa J. $50 men and / 100
horses II fact. IL had sent nearly as many
as Canada That country had popuIat.u.f
et from ioG3.0O0 10 5.0cGGG0 while New
South Wales had a population OF under l.
10000. Nj Lyme vcntured 10 think that
II the reverses had continued the people
would have sent three or fUu- times a.
many as had been sent
Il said something IN favor OF the men
they were sending. ne observed, that The
British Government had asked for another
1000 men. These men would be sent Our
proportion would be from 200 20 $40. which
would be sent in as short a time as pos
sible- he believed they had in camp ROW
between 800 and 400 men ready 10 60
While saying this. he wished TO point out
that they had not forgotten 10 look 10
themselves and their defences. II the ne
cessity arose, and even al these men
went. they would not deuude themselves
of the power they had TO defend them
selves. He had had q report prepared
showing the number OF men between the
ages Of eighteen and forty-five whom they
could get in case OF the necessity arising
for them 10 defend themselves The re-
turn showed that there were 200. 600. and
there were about 90. coo who could be ex-
pected TO carry arms and could use them.
Hr Lyme also remarked that one OF the
best methods OF strengthening the de-
fences OF TIL colony was that boys Of Ger
tain ages in The public schools should be
drilled by eOmpulsiOn. and the colonial
government should supply men and means
20 drill them They could turn out some
thing Ike 1900 each year. and il would
rot be difficult for them. IL they had been
drilled for twelve months OF two years and
taught TO usea carbine OF rife TO be called
upon in later years. and 50 obviate the ne
eessity OF what was done in Germany and
France Once they taught a boy how 10
shoot. il did not matter what age he might
be. it would only take a month OF two 10
make him a useful soldier.
Mr.. John See. the New South Wales Min
ister Of Defence. has announced the in
tention Of the Colonial Government to bling
in a bill to encourage the young men of
the colony TO join tae military forces.
mot merely at places on the railway lines,
but wherever they might be. for there
must be no favOTitism shown. They must
all be taught drill. and be given ammuni-
tiOn. and be taught the art Of warfare in I
camp All this points 10 an approaching .
development OF the colonial military sys-
TEN, which, il emulated By the other colo
MES. will DO much 10 enormously increase
the fighting power Of Australasia.
VICTORY FOR COAL MTNFRS