POSSIBLE ALLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 15

POSSIBLE ALLY.

IN TIME OF WAR. DUTCH EAST INDIES. HELP FOR THE EMPIRE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHUKCH, thi 6 day. Aid which the Dutch East Indies could give Britain and the Dominions in the event of war was outlined by Mr. J. T. Schoon in an address at a luncheon given by the Christchurch Business Men's Club. Of Dutch descent, Mr. Schoon has travelled extensively and possesses a wide knowledge of world affairs, particularly in the Pacific. He recently arrived in the city, where he intends to spend hie retirement. "To the world he is the most hideous figure since the inquisition," wae Mr. Schoon's description of Herr Hitler. Most likely Holland would have to fight to preserve her integrity and freedom. Hitler hoped to have Ja'pan as an ally in the next war, and had epies working for him in all parts of the world. Spain, Holland, Egypt, the Balkans and dozens of other countries had their Xazi workers, and Japan was a good pupil of Gern»any. Those two countries,, they hoped, would divide the booty of the next "war. Aβ soon as war started in Europe, Japan would be on her way to the Dutch East Indies. Later they would be on their way to Australia and Xew Zealand Thousands of Pacific islands would be basee for Japanese submarines. Dutch aeroplanes flew from Batavia to Australia in two and a half daye, but they could do it in much lees. "The Japanese have been thinking about it for a long time," added Mr. Schoon, but first ehe would seize Singapore and the Dutch East Indiee far their rich oil supplies. Efficient Army. Four years had been spent in the Dutch East Indiee building an army of 40,000 men, half of them natives. Some islands, eueh ae Bali, had general training. The troops wore uniforms blending with their backgrounds. There were no spectacular parades, but modern equipment wae ready for service. For every 20 men there was a machine gun, a higher proportion than in any other army of the world. Long-distance 'bombers, for which there 300 aerodromes, with underground equipment, guarded the oilfields, and modern cruisers guarded the ports. Landing forces would be repelled by ''setting the sea on fire." This would be done by pouring oil out of pijws already in place, and setting matches to the oil. These precautions ensured thai the oil fuel for the British Navy would always be available, and for Xew Zealand, protection, for a time, at least, would be assured. The Dutch would fight to hold what they had had for 200 years. Japan could not reach India until the Dutch were beaten. With war threatening, the Dutch said: "We truet in God and keep our powder dry."