DEFENCE FORCES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21863, 17 August 1936, Page 4

DEFENCE FORCES

TO THE EDITOB OP THE FBESS. Sir,—Owing to the British Empire having put so much faith in the League of Nations and disarmament, New Zealand’s security now rests too much on the fickle public opinion and party politics of alien nations. Unfortunately, there are hard-headed realists, who are militarists, among these nations, with whom even the League of Nations has been not entirely successful. If only our realist pacifists could do better; then would the returned soldier militarists be able to do that which they earnestly wish—live in peace, Olympic Games would be played without international upheavals, and the future welfare of New Zealand could be discussed without the use of ill-fitting and provocative terms. However, he would be a poor farmer who, because of the approaching storm, neglected to feed and cover his restive stock because of the extra risk of- being kicked or horned. Many nations have spent hundreds of millions on arming and might consider if cheaper to use armaments to gain colonies than pay further hundreds of millions for them. With the world as it is. it has often required considerable force tq remain neutral. As to reciprocal trade, perhaps it does not pay to lower our standard of living, by hindering trade through the use of tariff barriers. We are probably actuated too much by the high standard of living. A league of colony-requiring nations suddenly attacking-the Empire would lay New Zealand open to a surprise attack by a force convoyed by a squadron strong enough easily to deal witfe any British opposition and easily supplied from one of the world’s lergest fleets, and equipped with every mechanical and chemical aid to success. If aircraft carriers are too costly to risk so far, the use of converted merchant ships is not impossible, and there are dozens of sheltered, thinlypopulated bays on'the coast to operate from. Covered by aircraft and ships’ guns, mechanised columns could be landed and, making use of our good roads, over-nm the country. The bulk of our artillery and arms is stored in a few centres easily isolated by shell-fire and air attack. The country could be left virtually out of action in a few hours, unable to rearm, and, in the event of a British defeat, easily occupied by a large force, when the population could be deported to a less favoured land.

|lvery million spent on improvements since the war has made New Zealand appear a richer prize to an enemy, while the means of defence, the insurance, has not been kept up. With about a quarter of a million possible defenders, nearly half of whom only require to fire a short course of musketry again to be efficient, and the huge fhyt of motor vehicles available

(without great cost or inconvenience), a mobile force of all arms could be organised in each main district, ready and capable of defence. Organisation done now would lessen the confusion and loss of life in any attack, and reduce the risk of irresponsible shooting by civilians, with consequent ugly reprisals. This country is now one of the weakest links in the British Empire chain, and the sooner the Empire is strengthened the sooner will there be peace.—Yours, etc., N.Z. August 14, 1036.