COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINIITG.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 August 1930, Page 6

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINIITG.

Your correspondent E. Gibson apparently has not studied very closely the problem of national defence,, or she would refrain from rushing into print airing such narrow views as she expressed in your issue of the 14th. The officers of the Wellington West Coast Regiment are to be complimented on their endeavour to ensure that the necessity; for adequate defence is recognised. No on* deplores war more than does the citizen soldier; He realises., however, that military education is vital if I national suicide and unnecessary slaughter, of manhood is to be avoided. Citizen soldiers, especially those with active service experience, realise the vital necessity of adequate military education. It does liot require a great deal of imagination to visualise a carpenter endeavouring to build a house without a knowledge of carpentry, or or a sailor endeavouring to navigate a vessel wit out a knowledge of navigation.. Whv snou Mrs. Gibson expect an army to take the jie with no knowledge of military matters,. or o put it more bluntly, why ask our young men to commit suicide if war occurs when adequa training in peace time would reduce the casuaties enormously? It must be remembered war can be avoided only until it °^ rs ; T UNIVERSAL;