THE TERRORS OF REMOTE DANGERS

Press, Volume L, Issue 14984, 3 June 1914, Page 10

THE TERRORS OF REMOTE DANGERS

VALUE OF MILITARY TRAINING

SWITZERLAND AND NEW ZEALAND COMPARED.

(SPIC-AT. TO "THX PRESS.'**) WELLINGTON, Juno 2. At tho New Zealand Club luncheon to-day, General Sir lan Hamilton referred to the Swiss system of military training which ho had studied before coming to Australasia. He stated that in his report, which would go to tho Minister of Defence, he had frequently referred to tho Swiss example in methods of organisation, training, discipline and so forth. Now Zealand was seven times bigger than Switzerland, but we had only a quarter as many people, and three times tho revenue. Tho Swiss out of their revenue of four millions spent 1. millions on their army, or nearly half. New Zealand spent only £500,000 out of a revenue of nearly 12 millions. Switzerland was "chock-a-block" with the greatest military powers of tho world, but was determined to resent any violation of her frontiors, so that sho was obviously in a very critical position. New Zealand, on the other hand, was remote from danger, but the character of the danger faced by both countries had also to be considered. The people in Switzerland wero for tho most part German, a large number were French, and thero were some Italians. There was one Italian regiment in tho Swiss army. The rest of "the army was convj-osed mainly of Germans, and a few Frenchmen. If the Swiss wero invaded and conquered by the. Germans, the German ]>eople would be fairly well at homi l ; in the same way if the French people were to conquer Switzerland, tho , French peonle would bo perfectly at home. In New Zealand it was otherwise. This country's danger would not bo by being overrun by a peoplo speaking the same language, and of the same blood: in such a case the results here would bo much more unpleasant. He would say, therefore, thrt thero were dangers here in the Pacific that mado up in terror for their remoteness. There w"re. therefore, reasons why New Zealand should have an army. The General went on to lefer to tbe Swiss system and to the old Roman system. In either case there could be no defaulters. In Switzerland be found that- tho. reason lav in the attitude of the women toward defaulters. (Laughter.) They preferred tho men to do their training, and they had to do it He believed that neither tho Swiss nor the. Romans would excuse anyone unless on the grounds of relhrious scruples, and only if theso wero of a genuine nature. If others refused to take their share in the defence of their;country, ho believed- they would in such case be refused civic rights. The Gonorol's remarks were heartily applauded.