Patea & Waverley Press FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1941 THE NAVY AGAIN

Patea Mail, 16 May 1941, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1941 THE NAVY AGAIN

THIS news that a ten thousand ton German raider has been sunk in the Indian Ocean, once again proves the value of the British Navy, particularly to the people in the far off portions of the British Empire, such as Australia and New Zealand. As it is, far too many ships coming to New Zealand have been lost which would not have been the case had there been no such thing as disarmament afer the last war. Incidentally these losses serve to show the value of an institution such as the Navy League, Avhich exists solely for the purpose of bringing home to the minds of the people in time of pence the necessity of maintaining a strong navy and air force, capable of defending not only Britain, but also the whole of the British possessions overseas. After the last Avar Avith its frightful slaughter on the Western Front, people wore Avar Aveary and Avere to be forgiven if they felt that the peoples of the various nations had had such a lesson with regard to the horrors of modern warfare that they Avould not tolerate another Avar. TToavcvot, nearly a quarter of a century has passed since the Avar knoAvn as the Great .War ended, and the rising generation, Avith no first-hand knoAVledge of the horrors of modern Avarfare, have been inclined to be apathetic Avith regard to naval and military matters Avith the result that politicians dared not advocate a policy of re-armameut

lest they be defeated'at the polls. It was ever thus with the politicians, who sought popularity and votes by advocating a policy of economy at the expense of efficiency and the safety of the State. This was the case even in this far away corner of the Empire which' needed protection more than any portion of the British Dominions. It will be remembered that one well known politician speaking at Patea a few months prior to the late war, warned his hearers against voting for a certain political party, stating that so sure as they did so, they would have a British fleet in the Pacific and added the words “And you farmers will have to pay for it. M The farmers to-day who are. finding a large portion of their produce likely to be left on their hands owing to the lack of shipping which dare not come to this country through lack of sufficient naval protection would welcome rather than object to a strong British fleet in the Pacific at any cost. The value of such a fleet was shown when the very dangerous pocket battleship the Graf Spec was sunk off the mouth of the River Plate by TT.M.S# Exeter, Ajax and Achilles. But for the gallantry displayed by the crews of these vessels the Yon Spec might have laid off the-shores of this country and sunk every boat coming to it and every boat leaving its shoves would also have run the risk of destruction. It would be difficult to over-estimate the value of the British Navy not only to Britain, but to the whole civilised world at the present time. /The burden placed on the Navy is indeed a heavy one. In the Great War it had the active assistance of the French, Italian, Japanese and American navies. To-day it stands alone, with the well nigh impossible task of protecting the British possessions in every corner of the globe. Of a truth’ British people the world over owe the Navy a debt they can never adequately repay.