Guerrilla Fighters

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 171, 16 April 1942, Page 6

Guerrilla Fighters

Sir, —Since the start of hostilities fighting in Russia has demonstrated the exceptional value of guerrilla warfare methods, aud if these simple, but nevertheless most effective, methods have proved to be so valuable against the huge mechanized armies the Russians have had to contend with, how much more so would they not be against a necessarily sea-borne Japanese attempt art invading this country (the possibility of which, the Pacific situation being what it is, we cannot afford to ignore) when we are likely to have to contend with relatively only small, if undoubtedly highly-trained and mechanized forces? In addition to the not inconsiderable defence forces which have already been built up in New Zealand, a special effort should, in my view, now be made to enrol as guerrilla fighters a force ot not. less than 30,000 physically fit men, and these men should be given suitable equipment aud specialized training in the guerrilla warfare methods so successfully practised by our Russian allies under the much more difficult conditions obtaining throughout the Russian war areas. In this country there are thousanus o£ men who in their everyday occupations (in the mines, the bush ami other places) have become expert in the use of explosives, and as many of these men as can possibly be spared from essential war industries (aud what industry is more essential than defence . ) should now be enrolled as guerrilla fighters and in a very short time they could train many more thousands ot their fellow-countrymen iu the use or explosives for land mines and tank traps. Considerable numbers of men, now back in the military forces, have already received special training in guerrilla fighting tactics, and, without delay, these men should be drafted into the suggested guerrilla fighting force. —I am, etc., H. E. HYDE. Wellington, April 14.