DOMINION DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 13

DOMINION DEFENCE

COMMENT BY THE TIMES NEED FOR EMPIRE STRENGTH DANGER OF AGGRESSION ONLY EFFECTIVE DETERRENT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February. 10, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 10 The Times, in a leading article, says: "The Dominions have been quick to realise that in the prevailing conditions the British Commonwealth must be strong enough to resist attack if it wishes to escape aggression. New Zealand has done much in the last three years but all to the good—public opinion is in advance of the Government, instead of lagging behind. There is a similar state of affairs in Australia, where all parties have agreed on the need for swift and extensive rearmament. "Both New Zealand and Australia have the same differences of opinion as there is in Britain over the merits of voluntary recruiting and compulsion. "Everywhere there is vigorous determination to prepare for an emergency, which it is hoped may not arise, but for which preparedness is the only effective deterrent." STORAGE OF FOOD AUSTRALIAN PROPOSAL ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPOTS MINISTER CALLS CONFERENCE CANBERRA, Feb. 10 The establishment of large inland food storage depots for use in emergency will be considered by representatives of the dairying, fruit and wool industries at a conference, which has been called by the Minister of Commerce, Sir Earle Page, in Melbourne for Monday. Other objects of the meeting are the preparation of a plan to co-ordinate resources for the assistance of Britain in emergency, an estimation of local requirements and consumption in wartime, and internal food distribution in wartime.

SPUR TO ITALIANS FRESH MILITARY EFFORT BRITAIN AND GENERAL FRANCO LONDON, Feb. 9 The bewilderment caused in foreign circles by the statement of the Italian Foreign Office journal Diplomatic Information yesterday regarding the Anglo-French alliance is relieved by the Italian press interpretations, which unanimously emphasise the remark calling for fresh military effort by Italy. This may be regarded as a further prick of the spur to help the nation to keep peace with II Duce's demands. Clearly the attention General Franco is paying to British and French suggestions for a 6peedy winding up of the war in Spain is not relished by Italy. H.M.S. Devonshire's activities at Minorca are greeted in Rome with illconcealed amazement and dismay.

The newspaper Tribuna estimates that Italv is in a position to mobilise an army of 10,000,000. It explains that the decree of February 1 radically changes mobilisation regulations.