PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE.
to say whether Sydney or Melbourne is the more strongly defended. The permanent forces of New South Wales include over 600 artillery, and a few submarine miners. Besides these there are 800 cavalry, 500 artillery, and 2500 infantry—either militia or volunteers. The peace establishment of the New South Wales forces is nearly 6000 men.
Defences of Queensland.The Queensland Navy includes two gunboats of 450 tons, manned by the naval brigade. The actual strength of the military force is over 3500. The permanent artillery number only 174. The strength had been so much reduced that it was impossible to provide reliefs for the garrison of Thursday Island, and to maintain it at its proper strength; some steps have recently been taken to remedy this evil. A battery of garrison artillery militia is being raised at Cairns.
Defences of South Australia.The South Australian Navy possesses one heavily-armed little cruiser, the Protector. The permanent crew only numbers seventeen, including officers, the complement being completed from the naval brigade. When my father and I went on board, the ship was under way. We steamed out to sea, dropped a target, and gunnery practice was gone through while steaming at the rate of seven or eight knots. Though the bulk of the naval brigade men had only been on board a few days, the practice was in most cases extraordinarily good. We were very much struck with the efficiency displayed. At Largs Bay there are small forts, the main purpose of which appears to be to protect Adelaide from bombardment. The military forces of South Australia have recently been reorganized, and now comprise about 1200 men. The number is small,200
