NEED OF DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22421, 18 May 1936, Page 12

NEED OF DEFENCE

Sir, —" Anzac's " letter of May 14 states the opinion of nearly all returned soldiers. There is nothing to stop an invading force from landing on numbers of places on our coast. The few planes we have make one smile. Why not build a dozen submarines? They would constitute an invisible menace to invading ships. If there are not the facilities for building them, they should be got on the way. What's wrong with halt a dozen machine guns and crews in the country townships? Many returned soldiers would be glad to train the hefty young fellows that are about. We returned soldiers would, of course, bo called on in an emergency. What could ive do? Grab the old 12 bore and go and be killed, or gassed, which would be worse. If there are arms and munition depots we don't know of them, and if any do exist (Except in the large towns) every trained man should know about them, and to where ho would have to rally. Why not got some field batteries going in the country districts, where there are plenty of men and horse power. If Ave were organised, even only in a small way, we could hit hack. At present it makes one Seel like weeping at the thought of what would happen if a very small enemy army landed on some of our unprotected beaches, which could easily be done any calm night. The first intimation of an invasion that the larger towns would get would probably be with mustard gas from planes; anyone who has seen a human being die from mustard gas poisoning will have the horrible memory with him for life. Gunner.