Britain Not Asking For N.Z. Troops' For Use In Malaya

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 June 1950, Page 2

Britain Not Asking For N.Z. Troops' For Use In Malaya

WELLINGTON, June 23 (P.A.).—The Chief of the Imperial General Staff (Field-Marshal Sir William Slim), who is at present visiting New Zealand, said today that he was not asking for any New Zealand or Australian troops for Malaya. “We can manage quite nicely i think,” he told a press conference in Wellington. “However, we are always extremely glad to have what you like to give us.” , , _ Sir William Slim refused to discuss the possible nature of New Zealand s contribution to Commonwealth defence, stating that the forces this country was going to provide was not a subject for public comment. British troops were being sent to Malaya after about 16 weeks’ training said Sir William Slim. Once there, they were given a further six weeks training. “Our boys go overseas from io years onward,” he said. “They are not so fond of their mothers as you are in New Zealand.” When he was asked what type 01 New Zealand' force he preferred. Sir William Slim said “from what I have seen of New Zealand troops, I would take any kind.” Asked if any threat to New Zealand from Asia existed, Sir William Slim replied “There is not the slightest threat of you being invaded. I don’t think you can be invaded. He said that no invasion was possible unless an enemy had command of the sea and a vast merchant fleet with stores and equipment. There was no power on earth that could gain that superiority against the combined British and American fleets. Infantry Training Programme Sir William Slim said he considered New, Zealand’s policy of concentrating on training infantry was sound, even with the invention of atomic and other weapons. He did not think the necessity for good, sound infantry divisions had lessened., , In every military theatre he had visited the demand was for more infantry. The fact that New Zealand has only one modern tank did not necessarily detract from the country’s armoured training scheme. He said it was better to’have army experts completely familiar with the tank before others came this way. Equipment would not be damaged and training in its use would be from experts who knew what they were talking about. He thought there still existed in modern warfare a large field for the employment of armoured formations, though the development of anti-tank defences meant that tactics would have to'change.

Discussing the state of Western Union defences, Sir William Slim said the military co-ordination of European countries concerned had gone much further than he had expected two years ago. The defence scheme still had a long way to go, but he thought it was worth persevering with. ’ “Greatest Force For Peace” Defence, he said, was the best way to ensure peace, and the first to be ready should be the British Empire, the greatest force for peace in the world'today. “I am. not here to rush people to wars, but to stop war by getting the people of the British Empire together,” continued Sir William ,Shm, “but if thfe occasion arises, we will know what to do, and have goodana firm leadership from our leaders.