Page:Problems of Empire.djvu/48

 PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE. As long as our Navy is maintained at its proper strength, and is efficiently officered and manned, it should not be possible for a serious expedition to leave the enemy's port without a British fleet being immediately in pursuit.

The local defences of the coaling stations throughout the Empire are in the hands of the Army—a policy which is not adopted by other nations. To this system many object on the grounds (1) that their defence more properly belongs to the sphere of the Navy; (2) that the Navy possesses in our magnificent marine corps a force which is far better adapted to the garrisoning of isolated and distant coaling stations than a short-service army. It is urged, and urged with force, that it must be absolutely destructive to the efficiency of a regiment to place three companies in garrison at Mauritius, one company at St. Helena, and the remaining companies at Cape Town—roughly 2000 miles away from either of the detachments. The principal objections to a change come from naval officers themselves, who consider that, if responsible for the defence of coaling stations or coasts, they would be tempted to keep their ships in the neighbourhood of their ports, instead of pursuing the enemy wherever he might be found, and making, as we have done in past years, our frontier line our enemy's coast. Though much money may be wasted under our present system in providing defences, whether forts or submarine mines, which the circumstances do not require, the naval objection to a change of system must be admitted to be of great force.

If, for the protection of our commerce, our Colonies, and coaling stations, we depend in great measure on the Navy, still more do we do so for protection against 30