DEFENCE FORCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 8

DEFENCE FORCES

AUSTRALIA'S WEAKNESS DECLINE IN ALL BRANCHES POSITION TO BE REVIEWED [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Feb. 2 The recent announcement by the Minister of Defence, Sir George Pearce, that there will be an early review of the defence position in Australia early in tho new financial year has been warmly welcomed in many quarters. However, any suggestions that there will be a return to the days of universal military training are noj, regarded seriously. It is argued that such training has never been very successful and that the results obtained were not in keeping with the tremendous costs. The question of economy ruled the decision to cease compulsory training and institute the voluntary system, but the few volunteers now in training to-day tend to prove that Australia is far from being a militaristic nation. At the same time, reasonable people contend that Australia must defend its shores and that at present it is totally unprepared for any danger that might arise. Its shores have been described as " the most undefended" in the world. Inadequate Air Force 'Air force authorities express the view that the number of fighting machines possessed by Australia is quite inadequate for active service. There are 32 general purpose planes and six fighters. If Australia were attacked all these planes could jiot be sent to the scene of the action, as some would be needed for training purposes. An attacking force would probably have a few hundred machines./ The Australian Air Forco .has a total strength of 700 men and 100 officera. In the earjy stages of its development the strength was more than 1000, and it was expected that by now jt would be double that number. According to naval authorities, the personnel of the Royal Australian Navy has dropped from 5000 in 1920 to 3149, and there are .four ships in commission, compared with 23 after the war. Australia now has only two cruisers of the 10,000ton type—a type which the British Navy has decided to abandon —a seaplane carrier which was regarded as obsolete before its completion, and the destroyer JTattoo. Obvious Weaknesses When the Prince of Wales visited Australia after the war there was a fairly good squadron to welcome him. The battle-cruiser Australia, the cruisers Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Encounter, several submarines, destroyers and survey ships were in commission. The Adelaide and Brisbane are still in reserve, but both are more than 15 years of age, and over the age limit. A fortnight ago naval exercises were held on the Sydney-Auck-land trade route, and, according to one expert, they showed how seriously exposed to danger the wheat and wool ships would be owing to lack of cruisers. The ' appearancealast week of strange craft on the nortnern seaboard of Australia has emphasised the seriousness of the position. For the last 50 years Japanese vessels have been exploiting these waters and no definite action has been taken to deal with them. For three years there has been no exchange of British and Australian cruisers, with the result that the Australian personnel, because of lack of training facilities, is getting backward. Australia's military weakness is obvious. Not long ago 50,000 were in training. Now there are only 27,000 and the number is dwindling every month.