39§ 
THE MILITARY FORCES OF QUEENSLAND. 
military authorities, and it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the 
Government have up-to-date treated the matter rather as a military 
show, which has to be kept up for the sake of appearances, than as a 
serious necessity. 
If there is one thing that would seem to be absolutely certain, it is 
this, that Queensland, in common with the other Colonies of Austral¬ 
asia, will some day, and who can guess how soon, have to resist a foreign 
invader, and their political leaders seem hardly to realize that there is 
one essential difference between their case and that of the Mother 
Country. The latter will, most likely, fight her decisive battles in other 
countries, but when Australia has to fight, the struggle will be on her 
own shores. Fortunately the present Premier of Queensland seems l<< 
possess a just appreciation of the military necessities of his Colony, if 
we may judge from the speech on his future programme, which he 
delivered at a recent meeting, and as there has been no outcry with 
reference to his proposals for future expenditure, it may be hoped that 
the public are also taking a sound view of the matter. Indeed, the 
Defence Force seems to have a great future before it and there are not 
wanting indications that the time is now approaching when the “ Sons of 
Australia ” will, in the words of one of their finest poets, “ take to war as 
their fathers took to sport.” Federation is at present the topic of the 
hour, and even if nothing else comes of the idea it at least seems prob¬ 
able that the forces of the different Colonies will be amalgamated, and 
that the Artillery will be formed into one regiment under the name of 
the “ Royal Australian Artillery.” 
In conclusion, I would recommend any officers who may find them¬ 
selves on leave in Queensland to pay a visit to the head-quarters of the 
force in Brisbane. I can assure them of a hospitable reception, and I 
have no doubt that on the conclusion of their visit they will carry away 
with them, as I have done, a very lively rememberance of the kindness 
and hospitality of the Queensland Officers. 
