Conscription Only Way

Northern Advocate, 20 May 1949, Page 7

Conscription Only Way

AUCKLAND, Fri. (Sp.).—"ln tlie event- of war it would be four years before this country could put one division in the field if the Government adopts ■ the form of military training advocated by some members of the community.” said Mr H. E. Barrowclough, who commanded the-Third New Zealand Division in the Pacific. Mr Barrowclough was -speaking at the Auckland Catholic Men's Luncheon Club- yesterdayi „ , It has been proven that when a country gears its industry to war : production it takes at least four years to get full-scale results, and unless old soldiers were recalled to. the colours it would be the same time-before a division could be put in-the field and maintained with reinforcements and materials.

PACIFIC PACT A possible. aggressor in the Pacific could raise the required number of troops in four years or less, and it would be foolish to ignore that possibility and continue to do nothing, Mr Barrowclough said. The need for a Pacific pact was almost axiomatic, said Mr Barrowclough, although he could understand American reluctance to become a signatory when nations round the Pacific were loud in their protestations for democracy, but were unwilling to do anything about defending their Ideals. Mr Barrowclough said the essence of such a pact was that all the nations concerned should hold themselves in readiness to act in unison in the event .of an emergency.

TASK FORCE REQUIRED With its immense size and large number of small islands, the Pacific could not be held by a number of email garrisons, as these would be by* passed or dealt with piecemeal. A Pacific Maginot line would be as useless as the French fortifications. The defence of the Pacific could only become an established fact when a strong task force could be mustered and used where, and when, required, Mr Barrowclough said. New ZezJand : s ta£k could be supplying men, and previous wars showed that we could supply a very good commodity, he said. ■ ' While he admitted he- knew of no immediate Pacific aggressor, Mr Barrowclough pointed out that it had only taken Germany the four years from 1935 to 1939 to outnumber the British Army and Air Force in numbers.