SOLDIERS AND WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 20, 24 July 1934, Page 8

SOLDIERS AND WAR

(To the Editor.) Sir, —We have been led to understand that during the Great War those who were forced to look reality squarely between the eyes went through a psychological1 process known as "disenchantment." Soldiers lost their faith in a, good many tilings. When the annual conference of the K.S.A. for tho whole Dominion, advocated a policy which would commit the country to definite preparation for war, one wondered whether the returned soldiors had "regained their old-time faith and fallen.under the old enchantment. The decisive and unanimous repudiation of thp Dominion conference's attitude: from the. Christchurch U.S.A. shows that for some at any rato the blinkers are still definitely off. What returned soldiers think of another possible war is of intense interest to everyone concerned with tho welfare of his natjou and his fellow-men; and especially to those younger brethren like myself whose iurn it would be next. It is surely the duty of those who have been through it once to indieato definitely and vigorously what they think about it. Tho war policy into which the ' country is being hurried, lays on the old soldier a far graver responsibility than he -carried even during the war years.. If he sees through that Press campaign he has more right than any of us to cry "IIalt" to this thing, and expose its folly and crime. And to us, his younger brothers, ho has a duty which ought not to be evaded.— I am, etc., -, • - D. M. MAKTIN. [This letter has been abridged.]t (To the Editor.) Sir, —AJ; a meeting of nearly one hundred students of Victoria University College, at which speakers from the Free , Discussions Club, tho Debating Club/ the Student Christian Movement, and the Labour Club, wcro on the platform, the following motion was passed: "That this meeting of students of Victoria College affirms its ■ opposition to the war preparations of the New Zealand Government, and asks that this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister and.to the Press.'' Since this meeting was genuinely representative of the student body, 1 ask you to give this motion publicity in your paper.—l am, etc., MARY HURSTHOUSE, Secretary, V.U.C. Students' Anti-War Committee.