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COAST DEFENCE. 
ships of war look like, would form a useful portion of the instructional 
advantage of the annual camp. “ The science and practice of artillery ” 
would thus be not only “ advanced and promoted/’ but the volunteers 
would be at the same time made familiar with their places of 
mobilization. 
There are, no doubt, many difficulties in the way of such an arrange¬ 
ment as I propose. But that the principle is sound I know from 
experience. In 1893 it was my privilege to assist at the Meeting of 
the Artillery Association of the Dominion of Canada, and I can testify 
to the advantages of getting the auxiliary forces into the forts arranged 
by that valuable association then for the first time. Since 1893 the 
system has, I understand, been extended with still greater success. 
In conclusion, I would recommend you to study your new Drill Book 
firstly, and after that Naval History. I read somewhere lately that 
English people are not a history-reading race, and that not nine people 
in ten know the date of the battle of Trafalgar. Any other nation but 
our own would probably make its anniversary a public holiday in 
perpetuity. So perhaps, therefore, even the study of attacks upon 
territories will not be a congenial pursuit to you. Nevertheless, I 
recommend you to take up this form of literature. Begin with 
Admiral Colomb’s “Naval Warfare;’* once started you will go on. 
Do not confine yourselves to English books, but endeavour by reading 
foreign works “ to see ourselves as others see us.” Many of you are 
members of this Institution, and can have access to its magnificent 
library. To those who are not members I would say: “ It is never too 
late to mend.” 
One suggestion more: The Institute of Electrical Engineers is, I 
understand, doing a good work in registering those of their members 
who are willing, for the purpose of National Defence. In Australia, I 
believe, a corps of Electricians exists, and no doubt is most useful. It 
occurs to me that you must have in your ranks many valuable men 
who, perhaps, are not members of the Electrical Engineers’ Society, 
and whom that Society cannot reach. If registers are kept in every 
corps of volunteer artillery of men who possess any description of 
electrical knowledge, they would be of infinite use to the service of 
coast artillery on mobilization. Very possibly such lists already 
exist. If they do not, let me beg you to give their formation your 
earnest attention. 
Admiral Colomb and Colonel Sir George Clarke, K.C.M.G., etc., were 
kind enough, not only to send me the following remarks, but also to allow 
them to be published in the Proceedings of the P.A. Institution, —F. M. L. 
Admiral Colomb wrote (July 10, 1896) :— 
“ I am pleased to find in your lecture so close an agreement with the 
views I have always put forward. I do not see much difference between 
us on any point, and I trust we have both got hold of the right end of the 
stick. I am particularly glad you drop on that most mischievous phrase 
‘ the Navy is the first line of defence.’ You will see that in the last paper 
