AUSTRALIA AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

AUSTRALIA AND WAR

A Timely Review Of The

Possibilities

“Must Australia Fight?” by lon L. Idriess (Sydney-* Angus and Robertson).

This is a most useful and informative book. It is a review of the international situation in the light of the possibility of a war. Particular attention is paid, naturally enough, to the position of Australia, and the need for a trained people. The difference between a trained people and an untrained one is very strongly emphasized. There is no doubt that Australia might be subjected to great suffering and greater loss of human life if her people are not prepared and able to meet the foe. That, of course, applies with equal force to New Zealand. Indeed the human loss in New Zealand would be relatively greater, for there are not the wide spaces and long distances for the people to retire to.

Mr. Idriess starts with the statement that Australia has been warned that in the event of a war help might not be available from the Home Country for some time. During that lapse Australia and New Zealand must be prepared themselves to resist an enemy. Mr. Idriess says that if strong enough the enemy could seize a nearby nation and use it as a base for an attack on Australia. One wonders in the light of our own known state of defence if he was referring to New Zealand. More probably he was referring to part of the Dutch possessions north of Australia. So in the meantime, and maybe for all the time, Australia must be trained ready for an effective resistance. In an interesting review of the many islands in the Pacific, Mr. Idriess reminds us that Jaluit of the Marshalls is only 2500 miles from Brisbane. It is now armed and could become an efficient naval base.

No matter who the enemy is he has to come by sea, and his attacks would take the form of bombarding cities, towns and forts from long range, of raiding the sea routes, of finding and attacking the naval unit, of laying mines, of bombing north-east Australia from an island base or bombing elites from planes, engaging the Australian air force or landing a large raiding force to destroy cities or industries valuable to the defence forces.

The author with his clear forceful style discusses these forms of attacks, and as a New Zealander reads the book, he will apply the arguments to his own country. Mr. Idriess foresees the possibility of a strong enemy attempting to take New Zealand with the object of an ultimate attack from there. To use the author’s words: “New Zealand is an exceptionally rich country occupied by only a million and a half of people. New Zealand would be a rich prize for any nation. If the enemy could overrun out island cousins’ home just across the water, he could make New Zealand his base. One of the world’s great prizes and a ready-made, self-supporting base as against some undeveloped base. Free from attack while he was consolidating, and only four days’ sail from Australia. Then, if he could not take Australia, he would be still very firmly established in New Zealand when the war ended. Then what about it?" The very idea ought to make every man spring to arms I One of the chapters starts: “We will be defeated if we have not trained men.” The author then goes on to discuss in a most practical way the need for snipers, and machine-gunners apart from the usual forms of arms that go to make up an army. One cannot do justice to this invaluable book It is written by a well known and talented author, it is written by an experienced amateur soldier. It is not written for the purpose of making the people panic. It is rather written to point out to the manhood of Australia in what direction lies their duty. Every aspect is considered, the evacuation of women and children and the elderly not being overlooked. The difficulties of supply for them and for the armies and the effect on industry of a nation equipping itself for defences are all described in a most interesting way.

The plight of Australia is not so serious as that of New Zealand. Let every man read this book and then ask himself if he is playing his part for his country, and for his family, in not joining up and preparing himself for the defence of New Zealand. It may, too, be some consolation to him to know that his chances of beinsr killed are a thousand times more likely if he be untrained. Every member of the old N.Z.E.F. will tell him that. This is a great book written at the right time. One feels that the man who reads it will do something to prevent New Zealand’s being a jumpingoff ground for an attack on Australia.