A GRAVE WARNING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22956, 11 August 1936, Page 10

A GRAVE WARNING

DEFENCE MEASURES NEEDED LESSONS OF PAST FORGOTTEN THE DANGERS OF PACIFISM (Pep United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, August 10. The urgent need for measures of defence for New Zealand, and as great a need to have the military policy untouched by pacifism and sentimentality, were spoken of by Mr Justice Northcroft on Saturday Unpreparedness in 1914 did much to create the war, he said. It undoubtedly lengthened it and increased its losses. He was speaking, at a gunners' dinner, to the officers of the New Zealand Artillery who served in the war. His Honor commanded a battery in the war. "We were never professional soldiers, but were civilians who for a short spell became officers in a citizen army," he said. "We cannot

be accused of having any professional interest to advance war, even if it could be thought that we should wish to do so. On the contrary, we, with our bitter and tragic experience of actual warfare, both on the field of battle and in the more bitter and tragic field of post-war conditions, have a special interest in making any sacrifice to avert war. Pacifism and shallow sentimentality have in the past played too great a part in the military policy of our British people. They created the condition of unpreparedness which in 1914 did much to create the war, and certainly to add to its duration and "To-day, with the world a cauldron of war poison," continued his Honor, "it is criminal to allow our absolute defencelessness to continue Our legislators, who have been since the war days immersed with difficult social and economic problems, may be forgiven for our present defenceless position. The Prime Minister (Mr Savage) has assured this country that the matter is receiving urgent consideration in collaboration with the Imperial authorities. Mr Coates, for the Leader of the Opposition, has said that this is not a party matter and has offered all possible assistance, and that lead must be followed by all, and most of all by those of us who have been soldiers, who know the horrors of war, the need for preparation, and the futility of improvisation in the face of an enemy equipped with modern means of warfare; and who know from experience what is the fate of a country whose arms cannot defend it from invasion."