WAR AND FRIENDSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 127, 1 June 1938, Page 6

WAR AND FRIENDSHIP.

Scientist*:, not satisfied with chemical and bacteriological warfare for the, extermination of our fellow man. are now secretly experimenting with electro-technical methods, or "'lightning.' A recent work on the subject contains the following chapter headings: "Giant Forces." '"Vibratory Energy," "The Deadly Waves," "Destruction bv Distant Explosion," "Electric Traps,"' "High Tension Attack,' "Dim Light," "Electric Filters Against Poison Oases." "Electric Firearms," "Lightning-prodm ing Machinery." The militarist looks for peace by piling up arms. Is it 7iot saner to look for it. seeing that other nations comprise human beings like ourselves, from the logical basis of friendship and the slogan, ".Si vis pacem. para justitiam et libertatem"' ("If you want peace, prepare for justice and liberty'") ? The old slogan, "If you want peace, prepare for war." will land us" all in burnt, huddled heaps of human carcases. As for Xow Zealand, we are training hundreds of men for the Air Force "to defend," we arc told, "New Zealand's shores." The question for us to ask ourselves is, '"If so, can we honestly support a war iiy which our men are sent to the other side of the world to homb innocent women and children?" For that is what war is. If so. we cannot compliin of Japan doing what we are prepared to do. Genera! Sir Andrew Russell has stated that there is little likelihood of an invasion of New Zealand, but that our airmen would be required if there is a crisis in the East. "Required"' for what ? Fo boml> civilians? What are we "preparing' for? Do we stop and ask ourselves ? R.E.B.