MILITARY TRAINING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 241, 11 October 1929, Page 6

MILITARY TRAINING.

It is time someone talked some plain, common sense on the subject of military training, otherwise the old women of both sexes who imagine we live in an ideal world where it never can be necessary at any time to fight for our lives or property may get their way and this fair land of ours, rendered defenceless, may be made a free gift to the first Asiatic Power that likes to come along. Of course, they would never think of doing so; the Asiatics are far too kind-hearted, even if they are a bit land hungry. "A.E.C." says, "b there any potential adversary to be met 1" This is typical of the colossal ignorance of present world conditions exhibited by the average pacifist. Let me recommend him just to study a little geography, especially of the countries in and surrounding the Pacific Ocean, in addition to a little of the history of the past thirty years, and not omitting a few statistics, particularly with regard to population. As to "Imperial Private's" hatred of conscription, conscription simply means that in times of national emergency every man will do his share instead of expecting a few of the bolder spirits to do all the work and take all the risks in defence of their more weak-hearted brethren. Incidentally, "Volunteer," England was not long in adopting conscription in the late war, however hateful the word might be, and in spite of the wonderful efficiency of the "good old volunteers." EX-COLONIAL PRIVATE.