DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 17

DEFENCE

Sir, —A movement is suggested to create a body of men capable of holding this country by guerilla tactics or otherwise; while this is to the general good, surely it would be far better to concentrate upon keeping tho enemy at a distance rather than base tactics upon arrival. The next world war, if and when it comes, will be one of tribulation and extermination en masse. The Spanish conflict has been moro in tho nature of a preliminary try-out than a war, the most effective weapons being excluded, such as gas and bacteria. Tho one and only way to protect New Zealand is by threat of retaliation from Singapore, and there must be sufficient thoroughly-trained Australian and New Zealand troops stationed there to hold it with surety. We could devote .all our national income on tho defence of this country from New Zealand itself and then obtain little measure of security. Except by threat of retaliation in kind and the means to carry it out effectively, nothing we can do could prevent bacteria being dropped over our land.

Our remoteness would bo a temptation to experiment. The very presence of a long-distance air fleet stationed at Singapore would do moro to prevent hasty action by an enemy, than every man under arms in New Zealand. Most urgent measures of supply from New Zealand should be built up with panic control from within. Our isolation is an illusion, science has eliminated distance. No one can deny the possibility of foot and mouth disease virus being dropped on this country with calamitous effect. All our spare energy from now on should be devoted to survival and keeping a potential enemy away from these shores, rather than base strategy upon arrival. W. A. Booth.