A SUGGESTION FROM AUSTRALIA.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—The intense loyalty and practical patriotism displayed recently throughout the Australian Continent has elicited admiration from all quarters, and has opened the eyes of Europe to the unity of the Empire and her latent strength. The determined steps taken by the Imperial Government to uphold British supremacy has killed localism, and created in its place the Imperialistic spirit throughout the length and breadth of Australia, and we proudly fall in line and desire to bear the burdens and responsibilities of empire along with our kinsmen at home. The grand old flag has called her sons to rally round her, and from all parts there has been a spontaneous response. The squatter, the shearer, the miner, the drover from the great inland plains, have travelled hundreds of miles to the capitals, volunteering their services, and in many instances providing their own horses and kits. Those now at the front have shown themselves to be worthy of the stock from which they are sprung. The public have not been behind with their assistance, having subscribed to date over 2100.000 to the various funds. For the first time in history Australians have fallen fighting for the Empire. and a movement is now on foot to erect a worthy national memorial to the Victorians who were killed near Colesberg. No greater compliment could be paid us by Britain than that, when the war is over, she should send with our returning soldiers "The Gordons," "Black Watch," or other crack regiment, on a visit to the Australian capitals. At Melbourne they would be present at the inauguration of a memorial to their Australian brothers-in-arms who fell. The great majority here have never seen a British regiment of Regulars, and such would meet with an unparalleled reception. Their visit would more strongly unite these distant shores with the homeland, and cement the feeling that we are part and parcel of the greatest of Empires, and that the mother has a kindly feeling towards her children
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