COAST DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22475, 20 July 1936, Page 12

COAST DEFENCE

(NEW ZEALAND'S NEEDS NAVY THE FIRST LINE PROTECTION OF MAIN PORTS RECENT MEETING OF MAYORS The decision of a recent meeting of Mayors to urgo the Government to strengthen the defences of Auckland raises questions which the ordinary citizen is all too content to leave in the hands of experts. Yet it may be recalled that tho main ports of New Zealand were first fortified in th 6 'eighties, because politicians and th 6 public at that time were quite convinced that the colony was in dangei of being attacked by Russia. It was a false alarm, but there are many people in New Zealand to-day who ■would be glad to see the revival of a like enthusiasm for defence. Since tho advent of aircraft the principles upon which coastal defence systems are planned have been almost revolutionised. It his been recognised ever since the Great War that, while the invasion of a country from the sea remains a very difficult and hazardous operation, spasmodic attacks oi raids upon a coastline cannot bo prevented. Importance of Navy The first line of coastal defence is, of course, an adequate Navy, which so long as it remains intact and undefeated can give security against in-i-asion or prolonged attack. Naval forces, aided bv aircraft, can do much to forestall coastal raids, but such forces cannot be expected to devote their time to protecting areas of no military or commercial importance. It is'a basic principle of naval strategy that forces should be concentrated and free to move about, and give battle instead of being dispersed and tied to particular localities. . With the development of air forces on a large scale, more and more reliance is being placed upon mobile defences, both in the air and on the sea. Fixed defences, such as shore batteries and minefields, are regarded as most useful when a mobile defence has been eluded or is hindered from operating by bad weather. Fixed defences are not only costly, but are of very limited usefulness, and in modern practice. are generally confined to points of special importance, such as naval bases and large commercial ports which it is essential to keep open. The broad principle is to provide tho minimum of permanent defences consistent with the importance of the place to be defended, and having regard to its distance from a potential enemy on the one hand and from reinforcements cr the other.

Measures in Progress The Government has already shown that it appreciates the need for providing additional fixed defences at Auckland, as the Dominion's naval base, and certain works are already in progress, apart from the provision of mobile anti-aircraft guns and searchlights. Measures are also being taken to strengthen the defences of Wellington, which requires protection as an important port and the seat of government. As already mentioned, this work must be regarded as subsidiary to what is being done to increase New Zealand's mobile defences by securing two larger cruisers, the Achilles and Leander, and by developing the Air Force. The meeting of Mayors has not indicated to the public in what respect it considers the local defence measures inadequate, but is reserving its opinion for the Prime Minister, Mr Savage. No doubt an exchange of views on the subject will bo of benefit, especially if it serves to strengthen the hand of the Government in undertaking necessary defence ■works. ,