POSSIBILITY OF N.Z. INVASION DISCOUNTED BY FIELD MARSHAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23288, 24 June 1950, Page 4

POSSIBILITY OF N.Z. INVASION DISCOUNTED BY FIELD MARSHAL

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 24. The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Field Marshal Sir William Slim, who is at present visiting New Zealand, said yesterday 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 refused to discuss the possible nature of New Zealand’s contribution to Commonwealth defence. stating that the forces this country was going to provide were not a subject for public comment.

British troops were being sent to Malaya after about 16 weeks of training, said Sir William. Once there they were given a further six weeks ot training. “Our boys go overseas from 18 years onward,” he said. “They are not so fond of their mothers as you are in New Zealand.” When he was asked what type of New Zealand force he preferred. Sir William said: “From what 1 have seen of New Zealand troops 1 would take any kind.”

Asked if any threat to New Zealand from Asia existed, Sir William replied: “There is not t'no slightest threat of your being invaded. 1 do not think you can be invaded.”

He said that no invasion was possible unless the enemy had command of the ,sca and a vast merchant lleet with ‘stores and equipment. There was no power on earth that could gain that •superiority against the combined British and American fleets. Sir William 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 me necessity for good sound infantry divisions had lessened. Demand For Infantry

In every military theatre he had visited the demand was for more infantry. The fact that New Zealand had only one modern tank did not necessarily detract from the country’s armoured training scheme, he said. It was better to have the Army experts completely familiar with the tank before others came. In this way the 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 ihe state of the Western Union defences, Sir William said the military co-ordination of the European countries concerned had gone much further ahead than he had expected two years ago. The defence sememe still had a long way to go, but he thought it was worth ■ persevering with.