DEFENCE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23413, 1 August 1939, Page 8

DEFENCE OF AUCKLAND

Citizens with any sense of responsibility should read and digest Mr. H. E. Barrowclough's statement of New Zealand's defence problem as published this morning. Mr. Barrowclough's record as a soldier in the Great War gives weight to an analysis that in any case would commend itself as simple and reasonable. He gives his opinion first of the nature and scope of any likely attack and, in passing, touches on the vulnerability of the North Auckland peninsula and of Auckland itself. Anyone, in fact, who gives the matter a little thought cannot fail to see that Auckland will be the first objective of any raid or invasion. Any .enemy forces would approach from the North and could not proceed further South leaving on their flank and rtfar the threat of the unreduced naval and air bases at Auckland. Mr. Barrowclough scarcely troubles to conceal his doubt of the ability of the existing Territorial organisation at Auckland to repel an attack. It is not so much a question of numbers and there is no question at all of the spirit of those who have volunteered for service. They deserve every commendation and encouragement. It is not even a question of compulsory versus voluntary training, as Mr. Barrowclough points out, but a question of the adequacy of the training. He recommends three months' continuous training embracing a brigade of mature young men. Then Auckland would stand a chance of defending itself against even double the force of invaders. As it is, the Territorials are not given the training to withstand the onset and efficient followthrough of soldiers with long experience of working together as a unit. Mr. Barrowclough's judgment is at once sober and provocative and should not be ignored.