DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 37, 12 August 1930, Page 8

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your correspondent, Rev. James Milne, writing on the effectiveness of the aeroplane in modern war, must have had some regerts that he had not had the opportunity of perusing to-night's cable news, in which we read that a force of 10,009 Afridis are within twelve miles of Pesh-. awar, and that 70 'planes, having dropped 16,000 bombs, failed to cause serious casualties^mong them. This is in spite of the bombing, quoted by your correspondent; as having taken place three week* ago.

As he considers the League of Nation* such a potent force, can he explain why it is that the League does not step ia and stop these dreadful fellows from advancing on our Indian Frontier, or on th« other hand prevent our' using aeroplanes against them. Can he also explain why it is that the Afridis and other kindred frontier tribes are alway« on the watch for a chance of raiding across the border? Do they do it of their own volition, or is there another nation which uses them for its own ends?

Mr. Milne appears to be one of those who would rather let the Motherland stand the whole cost of defence than consider the slightest sacrifice on our part to be necessary. We do not provide an adequate or proportionate amount to maintain sufficient naval force to keep our over* sea communications open. The land defence system of this country is, or has been, pro rata, a very economical one ia comparison with similar expenditure oa naval or air forces, and even a small enlistment of, say, 1000 regular soldier* would be much more costly.

We must apply something in exchangft for the protection afforded by the Koyal Navy, and we can best do it by..being l'eady.to supply some more men like thos« of the New Zealand Division ("second to none") in the field, in addition to aiding in naval upkeep.—l am, etc., COLONIAL. 11th August.