THE DEFENCE FORGES

Evening Star, Issue 22573, 15 February 1937, Page 3

THE DEFENCE FORGES

NEWS AND NOTES [By Sam Browne.] THE ' GAZETTE' The following notifications arc contained in the New Zealand 'Gazette,’ No. 8 - OTAGO REGIMENT. Tho undermentioned to be. 2nd lieutenants, and are posted to the Ist Batliou. Dated August 28, 1936: —Lindsay Gray Smith, Hoani Haereroa Parata, Edmund John M'Ara, Evan George Cooper. RESERVE OF OFFICERS. Class I. (a). —Major-general R. Young, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., is posted to the retired list, with permission to retain his rank and wear the prescribed uniform. Dated January 5, 1937. MOUNTED RIFLES ADJUTANT TRANSFERRED. Captain M. E. Johnston, M.C., N.Z.S.C., the adjutant of the regiment, has been appointed staff officer, No. 9, regimental district, Nelson, and will leave on February 23 to take up his. new duties. He will be succeeded by Lieutenant F. L. Davis, N.Z.S.C., who will take over his new duties about February 16. ♦ TRAINING RESUMED. Training by sub-units of the Otago Mounted Rifles is now being resumed in the outlying centres, and it is proposed to hold a week-end bivouac for the Balcluiha-Owaka troop at Pouuawea shortly.- On account of the recent epidemic the annual camp was _ postponed, and it is anticipated that it will now be held about the end of April or early in May. THE OTAGO REGIMENT DATES FOR WEAPON TRAINING. In order that tho weapon training may be completed as early as possible, sub-units of the Otago Regiment have been allotted the Poliehet Bay range as follows:—Headquarters wing and A Company, February 20 and April 3; D (Support) Company, February 27 and April 17. CAMP POSTPONED. On account of the recent epidemic, the annual camp ’ which was to have been held at Waianakarua this month has been postponed. In the meantime evening parades are being held weekly at the Drill Hall. MEDICAL COMPANY CAMP POSTPONED. It has been decided to postpone the annual camp of the Otago University Medical Company. A further’announcement will be made in this cbluinn when, a decision has been reached. OUR NEEDS . SIR ANDREW. RUSSELL’S VIEWS. “It is no use feeling secure unless we are sufficiently well armed for the rest of the world to say wo are not worth tackling,” said Major-general Sir Andrew Russell, in an address on defence to the Napier Rotary Club. Sir Andrew emphasised that New Zealand was the weakest link in the Imperial chain, and it was up to her not only to provide for her defence in case of attack, but also to make provision for a small expeditionary force, which would lie available in case of trouble in the Near East. Visualising a sudden and strong surprise attack on the Dominion by a powerful nation, Sir Andrew said the Pacific Squadron would in, all probability be shattered or annihilated before it prepared for battle, or would be bottled up in the shelter of Singapore. New Zealand’s position in case of trouble in Europe, which prevented the arrival of aid from England, would be hopeless. . . Sir Andrew referred to the visit of Wing-commander Cochrane to New Zealand, and said it was his belief that the country should be equipped with an air force sufficient to,deal with raids, and, in addition to this, about 500 pilots as highly trained as it was possible to make them in this country should be at the disposal of the Imperial defence authorities. “ I think we should also be prepared to find a small expeditionary force of between 3,000 and 4,000 men—say, a brigade—and a number of mounted men,” he added. “ Trouble is ever likely in the-East about Palestine, and in the event of the Mediterranean being closed to transport and battle fleets it would be quicker for a. force from Australia and New Zealand to enter by the back door than it would be for troops from Great Britain to go round the Cape. In addition to this it is my belief that men from Australia and New Zealand could become acclimatised in half tho time, and thug be twice as efficient.” Commenting oil Sir Andrew’s statements the Auckland ' Star ’ says;— “ Tho proposal by Sir Andrew Russell that New Zealand should be prepared to find a small expeditionary force for quick despatch to Palestine or its neighbourhood is far in advance of, if it does not run against, public sentiment in this country. Sir Andrew conceives it possible that circumstances might arise in which armed forces from Australia and New Zealand could reach the region of ‘ trouble ’ more quickly than troops from England. Even if the Australian and New Zealand Governments were both willing, such forces would under present circumstances first have to he recruited, equipped, and trained, and several months would necessarily elapse. An alternative would be to maintain a small standing army, at all times equipped and ready.for quick despatch to service in foreign lands. It is possible, though improbable, that suclq a plan will be considered at the Imperial Conference, but no Dominion _ Prime Minister could agree to it with any confidence that the people he represented would support him.”