WAR PREPARATION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 160, 1 April 1939, Page 12

WAR PREPARATION

Position Of New Zealand In Crisis

NEED FOR DEFENCE

Compulsory TrainingSuggested

"Thanks to the Munich agreement in September last the British Empire, France and the United States have been given a respite in which to prepare for the next crisis, which may come soon and may result in war, says the New Zealand Defence League. "Six months have elapsed since the world stood on tire brink of the abyss which might have engulfed it. It is expected by many competent authorities that the next major issue will arise for settlement this year. "It has been published broadcast throughout the world that when the issue of peace or war came up for decision in September Great Britain was far from being ready; notwithstanding that Iter prodigious settle of rearmament had already been in progress then for close on two years. There were too many shortcomings in Britain’s defences to allow of her position being regarded as in any way satisfactory. Since then Britain’s colossal, programme has been accelerated, and much has been done to rectify the previous omissions. France has acted likewise, even enforcing a 60-hour week where that is found to be necessary. Australia, too, has taken time by the forelock, and has entered upon a national defence programmme costing at least £03,000,000 in three years, and is endeavouring to raise the strength of her citizen force from 30,000 to 70,000. America also has. at last aroused herself, and is entering upon a prodigious programme of rearmament. This is all to the good. Germany’s Increasing Strength. “On the other hand the cables inform us that, while the unemployed in Great Britain number close on 2,000,000 and those in America fully 12,000,000, Germany has adopted the 10-liour day, that there are no unemployed in Germany, and that Germany has even had to import hundreds of thousands of labourers from neighbouring States. Remembering that the production of munitions by the Central Powers during 1014-18 practically equalled that of the whole of the rest of the world put together, these facts regarding Germany’s shortage of labour and increased working hours cannot be regarded as other than disturbing. They are rendered all. the more significant when it is pointed out that the remarkable production by the Central Powers in 1014-18 was achieved in spite of their being deprived of access lo the world's supply of raw materials, while Hie Allies bad unrestricted access lo them, and that this handicap does not prevail to anything like the same extent, now. “What it means was fully conveyed in the recent declaration by the French Premier that while it took 16 months to build a submarine in France, in Germany only eight months were required. “These are not pleasant facts, but they must be faced. There are unfortunately, still more unpleasant truths lo follow. Since March last, when Mr. Chamberlain warned the Empire that in the next war Britain might be too fully engaged in defending her own existence to be able lo protect her possessions overseas, Germany has greatly increased her territory, and thereby has added considerably to her actual and potential military strength. At the same time she has added another year's quota to her own trained military reserves. Now on top of all this she has entered upon a greatly accelerated programme of arms production, notably in the manufacture of aeroplanes. in the building of submarines, in completing her “Siegfried Line" on her Western frontier, and in doubling Ihe Kiel CanalMore Powers Under Iler Sway.

"Politically, Hungary has signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, linking her up with the Berlin-Rome-Tokio axis. Militarily, Hungary and Poland have acted in concert with her in dividing tip the former State of Czechoslovakia. Navally, Japan announces that she is building up to parity with Britain and America.

“Can anyone say in the light of-these facts that since September last the position of the British Empire, France and America has altered to their advantage? Is the menace greater now or less? N o one can say definitely one way or the other, but if the menace is greater now, than the peril of the situation forecast by Mr. Chamberlain in March, 1938. is such that the sooner New Zealand places herself in a position adequately to defend herself the better.

“Tire present Government deserves the fullest credit for what it has done during its term of office in improving New Zealand’s defensive system. But. unfortunately, in a democratic country in matters of defence no Government can go ahead of public opinion. Much has been done by the Government in developing the air force, something has been done for the navy, but little, very little, has been done for the army. Yet in the event of a crisis arising such as Mr. Chamberlain has envisaged the army is the ultimate force upon which New Zealand may have to depend for her existence.

Establishment Still the Same

"The plain truth is that the present peace establishment of the New Zealand Territorial Force was laid down at 0000 when we depended upon Geneva for our security, and it has re mained unaltered ever since, notwithstanding the fate of Maneliukuo, Abyssinia and China, notwithstanding Mr. Chamberlain’s warning in March last year and the immediate fate of Austria, and notwithstanding the September crisis and the subsequent fate of Czechoslovakia and Memel.

"While this cannot be viewed witlt any satisfaction, it is reassuring to know that, on the initiative of the New Zealand Government, a conference between representatives of Great Britain. Australia and New Zealand, will assemble in Wellington on April 14 to consider the question of defence in the southern Pacific.

“Meanwhile the anvils of Mars are ringing in Europe. Asia ami America as never before. So great is the clangour and so ominous the outlook that a strong agitation is now proceeding at. Home for the immediate introduction of compulsory military training there. There is similar need for it in New Zealand lo meet the establishment required, mid, whatever may be the outcome of I lie defence conference, this must be pressed for by nil New Zealanders who have the welfare and safety of their country at heart.”