N.Z.'S ARMY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 215, 11 September 1944, Page 2

N.Z.'S ARMY

HOME AND OVERSEAS

APPEAL FOR SUPPORT

"I have heard it said in public several times that we had no chance of resisting the Japanese, and that we were entirely at their mercy" said Lieutenant-General E. Puttick C.8., D.5.0., General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, in a broadcast talk last evening, when he inaugurated "Salute-the-Soldier Week" in support of the Victory Loan. General Puttick said that he could not agree with such a view. Peopl« were apt to forget that in order to overcome the forces mobilised in New Zealand the Japanese would have required very large forces This would have involved a great deal of shipping, stores, and stron™ escorts. With her other commit ments it was doubtful whether Japan could have spared such forces and resources. New Zealand had made a big effort to defend herself, and had spent a lot of money in doing so Who would say what dangers that effort and expenditure had saved the country.

, "Mobilisation for home defenca strained our manpower to the limit to say nothing of the cost and loss of production," said the general. "Wa in the Army were well aware of that and the moment we were satisfied that reasonable security against further Japanese advances had been obtained we recommended very drastic reductions in the home defence forces." Referring to the reduction of 61,000 men and women in two years at a saving of £22,000,000 annually, General Puttick said that further thinning out would continue for some time. During the last four months reductions hacl been at a monthly rate of 1200. Present Activities Activities which the Army still had to undertake included the provision and training of reinforcements and replacements for overseas forces; guarding of prisoners of war and vital points; receiving and disposing of returning troops; manning of certain defences; guarding, repairing and maintaining huge masses of'equipment; overhauling and packing equipment for overseas; maintaining pay and accounts systems; assisting in the salvage, maintenance and disposal of camp buildings, vehicles and other assets; organising and training the Territorial Force and secondary school cadets; and maintaining the ordinary Defence Department organisation. The general stated that there were still large forces abroad, and many activities connected with the prosecution of the war which cost many millions. With the enemy disconcerted and disorganised, now was the time to throw in the full weight of the attack, and that attack had to be backed up on the home front by example, work, outlook and money.