BRITAIN’S SOLDIERS OF PEACE.

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 4, 6 January 1937, Page 4

BRITAIN’S SOLDIERS OF PEACE.

TERRITORIAL. ARMY’S NEW BURDENS. war minister on need for RECRUITS. “So far as the defences of thb country are concerned, it is the Ter ritorial Army that holds the fron line,” declared Mr A. Duff Coopei British Secretary of State for Wai In London. He was speaking after having presented the King’s challenge cups am other prizes to Territorial Artiller units In the Guildhall. “It is the Territorial Army to-daj that is responsible for the defence a our coast,” he stated. “It Is the Territorial Army that li responsible for the defence of on Inland towns from the new menace a air attack. “This is a vast new weight of responsibility that has been laid on tin shoulders of the Territorial Army, am glad to say that there is ever? Indication of their willingness to tak« tills new responsibility. “During the last three or foul months, as compared with the’ slmllaj period last year, the increase in re cruitlng has been over 60 per cent “But we must not congratulate ourselves too early. The task that liei before' us In order to bring our establishment up to strength is a vas Dne. ‘‘l have no fear with regard to th« courage and patriotism of the youni men of to-day. They love their country and are prepared to defend it, bu many of thebi do not realise hov Immediate Is the responsibility—hov urgent the need. “They salve their consciences b; saying that if the emergency come> they would be willing, as their fathen were, to fight and die for their country. “It is not their lives we want; it It their skill, their training, and the! knowledge. At all times it is the dut’, of the citizen to do something for thi defence of the community in which lives. “In periods of security that can b< delegated to a few, but we are livini in no such times to-day. We are living in times when fearfuL dangen hang over every civilised country li the world, and therefore the duty i urgent.

“Every man who Joins the Arm: —Regular or Territorial—to-day 1 contributing his mite towards bring ing conviction into the minds of thos< who might be preparing for war thai Britain is strong, and that her wil must prevail, and disturbers of tin peace, if any such exist, will be punished.

“The stronger Great Britain Is today the greater the hope for peace The more you look round the worl< the more will you be forced to thoonviction that in the armed strengtl of the British Empire lies the great est hope for the peace of the' world.’