Page:Problems of Empire.djvu/220

PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE. The military forces at present maintained are, with some exceptions, insufficiently trained, and are unprovided with equipment to enable them to take the field. The militia and volunteers, who constitute the bulk of these forces, have only a few days' continuous training during the year. Even the camps of exercise, which do so much to promote the efficiency of both officers and men, have been often abandoned in these bad times. There is plenty of good material in the Colonial forces, but it certainly needs to be better trained and properly equipped. Though some steps have been taken in this direction, the Federation of Australia is especially necessary for the purpose of defence. Were Australia federated it should be possible to effect considerable economies in the permanent staff, and at the same time to obtain greater efficiency.

Against a serious attempt at invasion the defence of Australia rests on British fleets many thousands of miles away. Against attacks on commerce and raiding expeditions (viz., two or three cruisers and one or two transports with troops) the best defence is an active naval defence by ships which are able to pursue and fight the cruisers of the enemy, wherever they may be found. This active naval defence is partly provided for by the Australian auxiliary squadron, which, by an agreement entered into in 1887, is equipped, manned, and maintained, at the joint cost of the Imperial and Colonial funds. The squadron consists of five cruisers and two torpedo gunboats, three cruisers and one gunboat being always in commission, and the remainder in reserve. The cruisers are satisfactory little vessels of their type, and well fitted for their work, except on the southern coasts of Australia, where larger and more 202