THE DEFENCE QUESTION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 9

THE DEFENCE QUESTION

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—We have had a “Four Colonels” manifesto, and now a “Many Colonels” manifesto, both of which challenge the adequacy of New Ze. land military defence. The Minister for Defence attempts to justify the efforts of the Labour Government, and contends: (1) ' That the position of the country as to \ defence is satisfactory. (2) That the ' Labour Government has spent more on defence than its predecessors, and presumably suggests that the Government has discharged its duty. The real position is that; (a) The defence preparations in New Zealand are

hopelessly inadequate; and tb> the amount of money spent is no absolute criterion for, in crises, very large expenditure is called for. There is only one real test after some four years of crisis, and that is: “Are we sufficiently prepared for the immediate discharge of the national duty of defence?” The answer must be No! Our population is 1,500.000. On August 1. 1937, our military forces were as follows; —Regular. 106 officers, 436 other ranks. Territorial. 565 officers, 7717 other ranks. Only some 3000 other ranks attended the last annual territorial camp, and in no sense could these troops be described as first-class modern fighting men. Their spirit and efforts deserve every commendation, but their efficiency cannot measure up to a satisfactory standard. The length of their training is too short to engraft proper discipline upon them. Judging from appearances many of them are too young and a considerable percentage lack the qualifications called for in modern first line troops. Surely the absolute minimum requirement for defence purposes is 1 per cent, of the population—ls.ooo carefully selected, well-disciplined, and highly-trained men. men of a high physical afid proficient mental standard, skilled in the use of modern weapons and trained under the latest methods. With such a force neither a raid nor a summons for an expeditionary force would occasion any real embarrassment. In such case a country like this, with a virile population, whose fighting unit in the last war was called by the Germans “a sober, steady, silent division.” could give a good account of itself. The men are here, the need is here, but the Government has failed in its duty. It is mere sophistry to compare, as the Minister for Defence does, figures of to-day with figures of former governments. British foreign policy changes with the years and depressions occur. A few years back the policy was disarmament. The British Commonwealth set an example to the world by reducing arms and seeking peace. It was a proper and a noble gesture, but it failed. During those years high defence expenditure would have been out of tune with policy. The Cabinet has just again recognised what has been plain for years, that we are still in an international crisis of a most serious kind. British strength is the best immediate safeguard of general peace. Germany, Italy, and Japan are a formidable trio. Why did Italy, a few months since, “scrap” the first nlank of her foreign policy for years—"the independence of Austria? She has made a bargain with Germany! The two countries link the North Sea to the Mediterranean and the Italian fleet bestrides the Mediterranean—an artery oi Empire communication. It Germany strikes along the Baltic snore through Lithuania, Latvia, and Esthonia, up to Leningrad with air and naval support from the Baltic Sea. we must be prepared. A consolidation of a hostile frontier from Leningrad to the Black Sea means that the ambitious and exultant Hitler and Mussolini will then look west and south. Hopes of peace are temporarily gone —Britain must be ready. New Zealand must be ready, but she is not. The Government must accelerate and intensify its efforts in case the storm breaks. The Government has done something. It had to. But it has fallen far short of its duty to its country and the Commonwealth. Had war broken out in the Abyssinian crisis of 1935, our unpreparedness would have been a national scandal. Meantime the crisis is still on! —Yours, etc., SEMPER PARATUS. July 27, 1938.