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Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1937, Page 4

Field-marshal Lord Milne, speaking at the Mansion House, London, on January 16, spoke of the threats of war in Europe and added: “Some optimistic people say wc have five years xo prepare. J would consider myself an optimist if I said you have five months from to-night. The country is in danger,” Ho went on to emphasise the need for a population ready and trained in arms for the time when the call should come. Field-Marshal Sir Cyril Peverell, Chief of Imperial General Staff, said: “I do not hesitate to say that those who are responsible for the youth of this country are incurring a very grave responsibility if they continue to preach—as many of them do—that love of country is reactionary, and service for it is degrading. Let them rather claim that it is a proud thing to belong to, and a stilf prouder thing to serve, our Empire, the greatest power for good that the world has ever seen.” Mr A. Duff Cooper, Secretary for War, said: “We must teach the people of this country that everything that is valuable in this world must he defended, or else it will be lost, Most important of all — and this is a thing that seems to have been lost sight of in recent years—they must learn that the soldier is n man they should admire. They ought to look upon him as a protector—not as a man oi blood, but a man of peace.”