NEXT WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 13

NEXT WAR

CHANGED TACTICS BRITONS WARNED CITIES IN DANGER , AIR OFFENSIVES POTENTIAL RECRUITS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received February 15, 0.5 p.m.) Britisii Wireless LONDON, Feb. 14 The chief adviser to Sir John Anderson, Minister of Civilian Defence, Sir Auckland Geddes, speaking at Plymouth, referred to changes in the conduct of war, due to the development of aviation. He said all the experience gained in the last war was completely out of date. Circumstances, weapons and mechanical powers were very largely transformed and the situation had so altered that it was right to think of London and the great cities in the Midlands and in the south as being on the frontier. Now Continental Nation "From the point of view of air power we are now a Continental people," said Sir Auckland, " and our great cities are all within a short space of flying time from bases that might be hostile. The next war is practically certain to start with vigorous air offensives. "It may well be that never again will there be a declaration of war before war starts. We know that we in this country will never be aggressors and therefore we have to accept the fact that we may have to parry an unexpected blow." Sir Auckland answered the criticism of those who thought that with so many reserved occupations there would be no men left to be recruited. Millions Available Figures supplied by the RegistrarGeneral, said Sir Auckland, showed that there was a surprising total of young men who could be recruited. Between the ages of 18 and 25 there were 2,600,000 men, of whom more than 2,000,000 would be available for recruitment for general service. There were another 3,750,000 between the ages of 25 and 35, less than half of whom were in reserved occupations. That meant that another 2,000,000 could be recruited and there were many more available above the age of 35.