The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES" GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 1941. N.Z. AND THE WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 10 December 1941, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES" GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 1941. N.Z. AND THE WAR

New Zealand is at war with Japan. There is still a tendency to regard this fact as a formality, but the time may not be far distant when the people will be forced to realise that it is a reality. The possibility of war in the Pacific has been talked about for so long that it may be the case that, now that it has come, the public has become inured to the situation and somewhat sceptical of its inherent dangers. Let it be hoped that there will not be a rude awakening. It can be said with a certain amount of confidence that, at this stage, New Zealand has little reason to fear an invasion by the Japanese; there are certain technical factors which militate against such a possibility. This does not mean, however, that New Zealand is immune from attack by air, although even that does not at present seem to be a likely contingency. In the last 46 hours there has been ample evidence of the widespread nature of the Japanese attack. Throughout the greater part of the Pacific area bombs have been dropping on British and American bases and now it is reported that Japanese planes are actually over America itself. In the light of these happenings New Zealanders are not entitled to sit back with smug complacency and declare that “it can’t happen here.” The situation is such that anything might happen anywhere. The question that is uppermost in the minds of most people is what steps have been taken to meet the situation. The Dominion cannot claim to have been taken by surprise. From the moment the war started, there was a possibility that Japan, as a partner in the Axis, would be ranged against the Empire. For months past the possibility has been a very definite probability, and early last week the Prime Minister announced that developments were expected hourly. In these circumstances, there can be no excuse for unpreparedness. It is common knowledge, however, that few of the emergency precautions services have been functioning efficiently and that the Home Guard and National Reserve have been handicapped in their training, not only by lack of equipment, but also by the absence of official encouragement. A matter for equal concern is the fact that the country generally was not placed on a complete war footing months, or even years, ago. Industry has not been geared up as it should have been, the available man-power has not been used to the best purpose or the maximum extent, and there has not been the political unity which is essential to inspired leadership and public confidence. To-day the Dominion is in the throes of a first-class crisis and it is imperative that there should be a change of outlook. A week ago, the nearest battlefront to New Zealand was in the Middle East. Now it has already extended to New Zealand territory in the Pacific. Next week it might even reach New Zealand itself. There is no reason to expect the worst, but there is every reason to prepare for it. Even if the Dominion is fortunate enough to escape the worst, there are other things for which it must inevitably be prepared. The first thing that should impress itself upon the people of this country is that they are virtually isolated from the rest of the world. Up till now it has been possible for the shipping services to and from New Zealand to be reasonably well maintained, but what prospect is there of their maintenance in the near future? This one factor alone is going to upset the entire economy of the Dominion and the people must be ready for a complete readjustment of their whole outlook. Just how much is involved in this necessary change-over is not readily imagined, but drastic measures are inevitable and the sooner this fact is faced the better. Parliament has been summoned for to-morrow, and the public will look to it for a clear lead. No longer will it tolerate political platitudes but, instead, it will demand the firm and definite action that it has a right to expect. In the meantime, there is little about the situation in the Pacific as a whole that warrants comment. The one thing that does stand out amidst all the confusion is that Japan has embarked upon a war for which she has long prepared. She has been able to strike with considerable effect at points on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, and no one can say with any certainty where she will strike next. On the whole, however, the outlook is not discouraging. Considering the enormous advantage she secured from the element of surprise, Japan does not appear to have achieved as much as might have been expected, and there is good reason to believe that once the Allied forces get into their stride they will do something more than give a good account of themselves. It might be said that up till now the two sides have been manoeuvring for position, with the initial advantage belonging to Japan because of the surprise nature of her treacherous attack. This advantage, however, will not continue indefinitely, or even for long, and the real trial of strength can be awaited, not with complacency, but with confidence. It is necessary, nevertheless, that there should be a full recognition of the gravity of the situation and a firm determination that New Zealand should be ready and willing to play its part.