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DEFENCE OF THE NORTH COAST.
Thc success which hus uttomlccl tho for-
mation of tho Senior Cadet'and .'-Mounted
Infantry Corps lins stimulated tho military
spirit throughout tho district, and- if tho
authorities movo in the right direction if
is possible to establish a perfect, skeleton
field forco on tho Northern Rivers. A
group of young men were, chatting o\w
this matter sonic days ago, when. ono . ro-.
marked that the Mounted Infantry :weru
nil right, but that something ,wns needed
for those who wore, too old. tb Join the
-Cadets,'-»nd not In a position to keep a
horse, to enable thom to Join Hie Mo1íntódJ
Corps. Tho suggestion is a timely ono, and
should bc given consideration. It is under-
stood »that tho Defence Department intends
to abolish tho Scottish Hilles, and if that'
ls correct it will leave no opportunity, for
those who prefer foot regiments tb.servo in
I tim ranks. Tho mon who now compose the
Maclean' and .'Richmond Hiver divisions of
tho Scottish Regiment would, no doubt
j welcome tho furmutlon of a company in
I which .'they could continuo tbolr military
I work, wliilo in Grafton a sufficient'number'
! of recruits could bo obtained to form an-.,
other company. Tho need of tho hour is nn
j tirgunlHor. Tho work down river cnn lie'
safely lelt to tho officers commanding tho
old corlis, and tho same roiuurk applies to
[ thu Richmond Uiver. If somoono would
tnko tho work in hnnd in Grafton, und co
I o|>ern.to wttli tho loaders ol other centres,
a movement could 1» started that would
I be certain to succeed. Having secured tho
fnriiiulion of a sojuu'dron of Mounted in-
fantry, n Iso a skeleton regiment ot foot,
it would ho necessary to have other bron-
ches of tho service represented. Tho Army
Medical Corlis is essential to a field force,
and there ls every prospectait this brunch
of tho service being represented. Thu mut-
ter ls already being talked of, and if thu
medical mon of tho district will lend tho
wny there arc Hmso who aro prepared to
flinn tito rank nntl filo, lt may Im diffi-
cult to get tho Department to do anything
In tho way of establishing n field battery,
but even so that should be kept In view.
Thc milln thing to be remembered . ls that
tho North Const district ls Isolated, and
lu the absence of regular mid speedy com-
munication tho local forces should bo con-'
stltutod In such ii wny ns to enable them
tn net indopomlcntly of tho forger centres.
Military work cnn Ito made, extremely in-
teresting. Tiloso who do mit cure to en-
list in tho corps mentioned cnn find much
Hint ls exceedingly useful lind instructivo
in signalling work, while -to thc construc-
tive mind there Is much that is attractive
tn .tho engineering branch, laying submar-
ina minos, erecting Hold..telegraphs,, and a
variety of Work Incidental to o]H<ritt!nns in
tho field, A schema such ns outlined would
tnko time to carry out, lint lt ls worth'
fighting for, bocnusc lt would provo nn
olfactive mentis of defence'for'tho river
districts. Supposa thnt a hostllo forco
wns on tho const desirous of effecting
n fonding ut tho Clnrcnco entrance. Hall
a dozen well trained men in a fow hourn
coulu um ku tho. entrance absolutely safe
with submarino mines ; yet it is question-
able if a mun with the necessary experience
could ho found to-day on Uio coast line be-
tween ilrisbuno and Sydney. At nil such
place» as tho ' Clnrcnco and Richmond,
where fair sto-cd VOSSOIB can enter, . there
should/bo soma such proylslon for defence ;
but unless' wo make our voices heard, no-
thing will bo done towards building up
nn adenuato dufonca scheme for tho dis-
trict. Tho timo to agitato is now. Tho
splendid .start uih.de, anti tho, enthusiasm
that is being thrown, into tho work, should
bo utilised, by . tho, general, public, ; from
whom tho now moycipent should have every
sympathy, and encouragement.
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