DEFENCE POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22963, 19 August 1936, Page 5

DEFENCE POLICY

FACTORS OF FIRST IMPORTANCE

THE HORRORS OF WAR FAILURE OF THE LEAGUE Special reference to New Zealand’s defence system was made at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce by the newly-elected president, Mr Newman R. Wilson, who said that three factors of great importance were;— 1. The British Navy, coupled with the Singapore Base. 2. The Australian and New Zealand Navies, coupled with their air forces. 3. The mutual interests of Canada, Australia, and other Englishspeaking races in the Pacific. Mr Wilson said it was not his intention to make more than passing reference to world affairs, the failure of the League of Nations to prevent war, the protection of our trade routes, or British foreign policy.

Some schools of thought, he said, held that the members of the League should be prepared to apply more than economic sanctions, but if they took the case of Japan alone it would appear that the imposition of military sanctions was : hot justified. On the one hand they had China with territory it could not govern, banditry was rife, and there had been little development through the centuries. If a tree did not produce fruit, it was cut down and another tree took its place. It seemed to.be the law of Nature. Today Manchukuo had been opened up, its borders were safe, there was law and order, railways had been constructed, areas of cotton planted, and mines were being operated on a big scale. ■;....

It would appear that their friends aiid late allies would equally claim with those who took possession of New Zealand from the Maoris that the occupation was justified, Turning to New Zealand defence, Mr Wilson said that the isolation of New Zealand from any potential enemy would make it difficult, and if the Navy were effective impossible, for any force of, say, 50,000 men to establish a base and maintain communication. Their obligation to the League of Nations, or the Empire first, might demand active , co-operation beyond their own shores to maintain their freedom or, very existence. To fortify their main ports was impracticable/ hot only from* the' “Viewpoint of costs, but the protection they could afford to the movement of shipping or to the safety of the towns adjoining was doubtful. Because of the speed and cruising range of bombers some people contended that the aeroplane was the answer to battleships and cruisers, etc., but they knew that in daylight the barrage which could be put up against aircraft would force it to such a height that direct hits from bombs would be a matter of more than average luck. In defence on land and for reconnaissance purposes, etc., the aeroplane was invaluable. ; , COMPULSORY TRAINING In the Anzac operations the soldiers were held up with barbed wire, wellsighted earth works and trenches, well-placed machine guns, and determined men fighting for their homeland. New Zealanders had practically no artillery, and commenced operations as mere amateurs. To give an idea of the efficiency necessary in war operations to enable an army to maintain operations, he would mention a few subjects in which they were trained at Aldershot, where he underwent a, three months’ course, representing their division, in 1918. They attended artillery schools, having actual demonstrations of range-finding, trench mortars, rifle grenades, rifle shooting, bayonet practice, machine gun and Lewis gun operation and stoppages, sanitation, horsemanship, bomb detonation, field sketching, engineering, and the actual command of a battalion of infantry, in which each student was required to carry out duties from those of lance-corporal to commanding officer. This training was mostly for the purpose of inculcating the benefits of mutual support and liaison. •

At the Battle of Messines, after weeks of bombardment, they advanced behind a cover of bursting shells and whistling machine gun bullets. Even with the great efficiency which existed in these two arms in 1917, they had casualties from their own shells and machine guns. He would ask any returned soldier how he would like to operate in defence or attack, under a barrage provided by men, with, say, three months’ intensive training only. From the point of view of efficiency, compulsory military training appeared to be the only solution. It had its advantages other than efficiency, the least of which were better health and discipline. Compulsory military training was onerous, costly, and unpopular to British people, except in emergency. One could only hope that the League of Nations would be reconstructed, that they would all be broadminded enough to allow other nations their requirements in raw materials and territory, so that war, which was more ghastly than words could describe and so stupid, might be avoided. As an, alternative to military training, if the voluntary system were not sufficiently effective, than he would suggest the training of a nucleus of experts, say, 200, picked men, for the purpose of training them in infantry work, including the sighting of trenches, construction of entanglements, machine and Lewis gun instruction. so that for their force of, say, 100.000 effectives, there would be available for intensive training, if necessary, at. least one man for every 500. Mr Wilson said he had made no reference to the requirements of the navy, air force, or artillery, but was merely speaking as one with experience in all ranks, from that of private to commanding officer in the infantry. The Chamber of Commerce had received a letter from the commander of the 3rd New Zealand Infantry Brigade asking for support of the present voluntary system. Defence was a matter for the Government, but this Chamber could help by its members encouraging those employers who were undergoing training by paying their wages in full whilst in camp, in addition to their i.nnual holidays. Citizens, generally, should recognise and encourage the good work which was being done on a voluntary basis. New Zealand’s forces were organised on the basis of one division, comprising » field artillery brigades, and some medium batteries, including 6in howitzers; 3 infantry brigades; 3 mounted rifle brigades: 3 companys of engineers; 4 companies of signals; A.S.C.; and N.Z. Medical Corps,

There were land forces; in addition, the Admiralty sends out two cruisers, the New Zealand Government paying maintenance expenses. Half the ratings were New Zealanders. There were also two sloops, for which they did not pay. He was not in a position, Mr Wilson continued, to say what the air force organisation was, but they had some very good pilots, and possibly a few machines which could at least be termed efficient. An infantry battalion consisted of headquarters; three rifle companies; one supporting company, consisting of three machine gun platoons each having four guns and one platoon armed with four improved Stokes mortars. AN EMPIRE SCHEME The Government had indicated its intention to obtain the advice of an expert from the Air Ministry. So far as New Zealand's air forces were concerned, that was all to the good, but they knew that experts had a bias towards their own arm. Would it not be better to take the advice of the Committee of Imperial Defence as to what contribution was required by the Dominion towards the Empire Scheme; or. if expert assistance were utilised, then it should come from one who would appreciate the merits of all services. Referring to local affairs, Mr Wilson said they might recall that at the King’s Birthday parade, the Otago Regiment was represented by about 18 officers and 50 other ranks. They went into camp 150 strong. The organisation provided for a strength of 800. At present the voluntary system did not appear to be effective. It had been said with truth that Australia and New Zealand required a much greater population. Population alone, however, was no defence. The Chinese, for instance, with their teeming millions, had always been at the mercy of warlike tribes. This applied to the bulk of the population in India, also, where there were 300 million peaceful Hindus who enjoyed justice and protection from warlike elements and enemies beyond the North-West Frontier merely as a result of British arms. France, a virile country, had been invaded four times in 100 years. The increasing population of the Japanese, with their millions in small areas, with an annual birth rate of 900,000, was another problem which should have our full sympathy. Everyone would agree with the Prime Minister when he said that in the next war the front line should be manned by those who caused it. War, however, was mostly an open clash between forces of good and evil. Since the war they had a revolution In Russia, directly due to centuries of oppression. He was given to understand that four to five million people had been butchered, yet the unprejudiced mind would agree that they were mostly innocent. The system was established centuries ago. At the moment, they had a civil war in Spain; doubtless each side thought it was fighting for a high ideal. A government might be good, and its laws good, but if the administration of that government were bad, evil and discontent would result. Where, then, would they find this enemy which caused war and strife?

The British Empire stood foursquare all over the world for justice and security. The Navy had suppressed slavery and kept the seas open. The country’s safety depended on the strength of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Britain had led the world in disarmament and negotiations for peace, even to her , own prejudice. New Zealand was only a small link in the chain,.but that link was forged with the same steel. They could only see that it did not rust. Was there a greater democracy than the British Empire? Was there a greater democrat than his Majesty the King?