We note with great interest that a Renter's telegram of
Thursday states that Mr. Watson, the leader of the Labour Party in the Australian Commonwealth, addressing a meeting at Adelaide on Wednesday, declared himself in favour of a scheme of national defence under which every adult male shall be trained to take the field and equipped for active service. Australia would not be safe till that was accomplished. For the same end he advocated increased naval expenditure, "preferably on a mosquito fleet." Though we have not thought it wise to advocate universal military service here, we have little doubt that Mr. Watson is right in advocating it for Australia, and we sincerely trust that his advice will be taken. He must remember, however, that the training of the individual is not enough, and that an organisa- tion of coherent military units is an absolutely necessary accompaniment of the proposal he advocates.
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