Suva's Defences

Two Battalions and a Battery

rE steps which have been taken in Fiji to guard the Colony against possible attack were described in a pub lic address by the Governor, in Febru ary, and published in the Fiji newspaper on February 21.

The Governor stated that, at out break of war, the original Fiji Defence Force was rapidly expanded into a bat talion (a militia force) and that a pro portion of these men have been con stantly on duty.

The overworked First Battalion later received substantial relief from the for mation of a second battalion, which con sists mostly of employees of the Colo nial Sugar Refining Company and the Vatukoula gold mines. The two big industrial companies referred to assisted the Government materially by contribu ting, free of charge, considerable quan tities of equipment, accommodation, lighting and transport—the Colonial Sugar Refining Company also made a gift of £2,500 towards the cost of de fence—and the Second Battalion was also found to have among its ranks a considerable number of officers and other ranks who had had military training and experience.

A number of staff officers, for the staffing of this force, arrived from New Zealand and, presently, also from New Zealand, there arrived a coast defence battery, with modern guns and search light sections. Men of the Royal Artil lery and Royal Engineers came along to assist in the preparation of the neces sary fortifications and buildings, and to train local men to handle the guns.

“The addition of a battery alters the situation so far as the defence of Suva is concerned,” said the Governor. “Suva now becomes a defended port, ready night and day to hold off a raider and to make the port a haven of refuge for vessels desiring shelter.”

Fijians May Go Overseas

SUVA, March 5.

IT is expected that a force of Fijian natives will be enlisted for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force overseas. The matter has been under consideration by the Executive Council in Fiji.

It is not considered likely that the Fijians will go to France, where climatic conditions may be unsuitable; it is con sidered quite feasible that they should serve in a non-combatant capacity with the New Zealand forces in the Near East —Egypt or Palestine or thereabouts.