CITIZEN ARMY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19894, 23 March 1939, Page 2

CITIZEN ARMY

DOMINION'S NEED PRICE OF SECURITY ALTHIvNAT.I YE IS UlTCll HEY DEFENCE LEAGUE J’RU“This country needs an army 01. 30,000 men, trained in discipline and in the use of weapons. Untrained men will not meet the need. I! our soldiers are not fit to meet an emergency at once. New Zealand will send its best out ,to -be butchered,” stated Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, placing the programme of the New Zealand Defence League before a large gathering in the City Hall last night. The speech of the old commander of the New Zealand Division in the Great War created a deep impression, and applause which, punctuated his remarks augured well: for the success of the branch of the league which it is intended to establish in Gisborne. Sir Andrew made it clear that the league has no ,intention of forcing the Government's ha nds. In reply to a question on this point, he stated that the function of lire league was .to promote public appreciation of the Dominion’s defence requirements, and to show the Government eventually that the great majority of people in the country would be behind whatever measures it might take for security.

The Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., took the chair and introduced Sir Andrew as one who had taken a keen interest in matters of defence,

and who from his experience shot

be able to interest Ins audience keemy. The Mayor also congratulated the Onborne Returned Soldiers' Association on the large attendance at the meeting, which it had sponsored, Mr. Coleman remarking that meetings for such purposes were usually poorly attended.

His Worship read a letter from the Chamber of Commerce, pledging its support and whole-hearted assistance in the formation of a branch of the Defence League in Gisborne. Prefacing his address with the statement that -lie was now to all intents and purposes a civilian, whose day in harness was over. Sir Andrew stated that it was for the younger men to take their turn; to face the problem of defence and follow it through.

Reviewing briefly the history of international movements which had produced the present tension in Europe, he reminded his audience that Britain bad been the only nation to apply practically the disarmament clauses of the various treaties signed since the Great War.

One result had been that in place ol die old ratio of naval strength of 2 to 1 Britain had accepted the ratio of 5-5-3. with United States and Japan, and had reduced her cruiser strength in particular far below the figure set as n minimum by Admirals Lords Tellicoe and Beatty. While Britain had carried out the disarmament covenant, other nations bad failed to follow suit, and had'held to the maxim that might was right.

In 1931 the first breach of the covenant of the League was made by Japan In the invasion of Manehukuo. In JUT Italy had invaded Abyssinia. In both cases members of the League had been aggressors against other members, and in the case of Abyssinia there had been no formal declaration of wai-

In 1936, Germany had broken both the covenant of the League and the Locarno Pact, which it had signed voluntarily. It might have been pleaded’that the League covenant was signed under duress, but that could not apply to Locarno, where all the signatories acted voluntarily. The non-intervention agreement concerning Spain Iliad been broken by Russia, Italy and Germany, and some would say -by France. Not only tne Nine-Power Pact, but also the Kellogg Pact which bound the signatories note go to war to settle international disputes, had been shattered. Since 1930 an era of broken treaties had. ensued and Britain was the only nation which ihad been bound by her signature. Sir Andrew also referred to the more recent breaches of solemn agreements by Germany, in the case ol Austria and Czechoslovakia, and to Britain’s late awakening to the necessity of once more building up her armaments, at a cost which by 1941 would ‘have reached the astounding figure of £2,100,000,000.

That policy had been forced on her by events in Europe, and by the prospect of seeing her trade routes at the mercy of foreign nations. The age ol power politics had returned, with Germany, judged by her acts, aiming not merely at European domination, but world domination.

The Munich agreement, he fell, was probably inevitable. Peace-loving and easy-going Britain had neglected her defences, and her Prime Minister had been faced by a country which was thoroughly prepared for war. IBs learn was not ready, and he had had to call off the match.

War was n t ol (inevitable, even now, Sir Andrew roll, for Germany might experience a change t>l heart or leadership, but nevertheless the Empires bad avow to he prepared. The Munich agreement, though it could not be regarded with mudh satisfaction, had a Mowed a breathing space. Britain and France had had to give way under a threat they could not outface.

Referring to Russia, Sir Andrew stated that this 'huge country was isolated now that Czechoslovakia had gone under, and it was impossible to say what her chances would be against the well-prepared and disciplined German people. •Russia had been misjudged in 1914, and it was possible that she might again surprise the world. The Little Entente had gone by the board, and Gei many had added 20 divisions to her army by the collapse ot Czechoslovakia, besides taking over vast resources, both in materials and in manufacturing facilities. The experience of Czechoslovakia could hardly be encouraging to Poland, the only country now holding out against Germany in Central Europe. lie had been laughed at for saying that war might come. in 1940. He did not believe that it could come earlier, for Germany would have to consolidate her gains, and it would take time. But against that there was the report of two American Ambassadors, who believed that war might, break out in tlu> coming spring. Tile question for the democracies was: How could we make ourselves secure? A thoroughly-prepared British Empire, with France and the democracies of the Scandinavian States, and with the possible aid of the United States, might, well halt the totalitarian States, he thought. But it would call for every ounce of preparation. From the point of view of New Zealand, and also of Australia. the possibility of Japan taking advantage of Britain’s absorption in European conflict, was the most pressing problem. "Don't believe that Japan is too busy in China to cause u,< mischief. Her navy is completely free," said Sir Andrew, who also reminded his audience that the development of war in European waters might leave this Dominion without naval vessels of any value.

During the September crisis, Japanese warships bad appeared in the South Pacific, and there could be no doubt that, in the event of war, Japan intended to seize a base such as Fiji for operations against Australia or New Zealand. The disparity in population figures gave Japan u tremendous advantage in any conflict.

The value of Singapore to the Dominion might well be nil, if no capital ships were provided for its safety, lie explained. It might become another Port Arthur, which during the Russo-Japanese war was merely a bolt-hole for the out-gun-ned Russian ships. The seizure of Hainan Island by Japan was another indication of trouble for the future, for this island commanded the entrance to Hong Kong. Turning to the immediate problem of 'New Zealand’s defence. Sir Andrew slated that it was threefold. The lirsl consideration was how New Zealand could help the Empire, for it must be remembered that if the Empire went everything went.

To help the Empire, New Zealand must lirsl be able to help itself, and so place no drain upon the resources of the Motherland. The prospect of the outlying parts of the Empire having to take care of themselves for a while was envisaged clearly at Home, and should be realised as clearly here and in Australia. Tile Dominion also might be asked to strengthen British forces in the Middle East. He did not expect that the Dominions would be asked for the number of men who had been sent abroad during the Great War, but they might well be asked for some troops.

Some people believed that an air force would protect New Zealand. If that were true. General Franco need not have landed a man in Spain, nor need the Japanese have launched their extensive land campaigns in China. Both had immense superiority of air power over their opponents. Aviation had made tremendous strides in New Zealand in the last two years. Sir Andrew admitted. This was partly to the credit of the Government, and partly due to the excellent work of Wing-Commander the Mon R A. Cochrane, an able aviator and a fine organiser. The naval (establishment, in New Zealand was not sufficient, but at least something had been done to safeguard the coasts. It was in provision of land forces, on which the country must ultimately depend, that we had fallen woefully short. The Government had fixed 9000 as the number of men it thought necessary to train as soldiers Last year there were 7100 men enrolled, and of these some 4000 went to camp for training. Some, of course, were second-year and first-year men. The ex-servicemen in his audience would recognise that ii tool; more than three years’ spasmodic training to make a soldier, and that if war broke out the nation would need trained men—-.soldiers, not recruits. Otherwise it would be sending out men to be butchered. “We want 30.000 trained men available for defence in New Zealand,” declared the speaker, who proceeded to outline the Defence League’s projected programme of from three to six months' continuous training for every youth of 18 years, during which time the trainee .should receive fundamental instruction, especially in discipline and physical train-

Afler this period of intensive work under instructors, the youths would be given three or four years as territorials, during which time most of their work would be technical, and much more interesting than the routine course with ’which their military service began. Everyone would not serve as a first-line soldier, of course; but there would be plenty of scope in the services behind the front line.

Further the league advocated a national register, so that each individual should know his or her duty in the event of war breaking out. At present the people were like passengers on an ocean liner, to whom no instruction had been given in boat drill. The boats had not even been victualled, nor men told 0/V to use the oars..

Another point in the league's programme called for the use of the nation’s economic resources, for in its scheme there would be no sitting back and making money for anyone. There must, be economic sacrifice for those who could not light. Again, the league advocated the closest cooperation and consultation with Australia in all defence matters. AH this would cost a great deal but iof money, Sir Andrew pointed out, but if money had to be found for defence, other things might well be set on one side. The country must face up to the necessities of defence, even (hough it meant going without,

some tilings everyone would like. In Germany, lie asserted, people were making sacrifices in an alleged period of peace greater than any sacrifices New Zealand people had yet been called on to make in wartime. Touching on the suggestion that compulsory training would interfere with business, the speaker pointed to the example of Switzerland, where the citizen army trainee underwent a lengthy period of intensive training at the outset. Employers there had found, it perfect lv simple to make provision in their stall's for replacing young men when they went to train, as they had ample notice of the obligation. Moreover ,the young men came back to employment better in health and more useful in many ways than before.

The period of training for every young man was the price Switzerland had paid for ovr 100 years of peace within her borders. Many times powerful neighbours had wished they could take troops through Switzerland. but having counted the cost had surrendered the idea.

During the Great War. Germany had worked out the cost of subduing the Swiss army, and had decided that the effort would not be worth the candle.

The three great needs of New Zealand were a definite and wholehearted return to the teachings of the Bible, a solution of the economic troubles now affecting it and other nations; and a national defence scheme. Informed by the first, they might well find the second, but without the third, they might not have time. New Zealanders must be free to live their own lives, rightly prizing their liberty. “What is the use of talking about fighting to the last gun and the last man, if the gun should prove to be rustv and the man untrained in its use?'” asked Sir Andrew, who closed his address with an exhortation to those present to realise that the problems and burdens of defence must be shouldered at once, and not merely shelved.

Questions were invited at the close of the speech, and in reply to the first, Sir Andrew stated that he did not believe there was sufficient ammunition and ridles in the Dominion to meet a sudden emergency.

Replying to another question, lie stated 'that the actual programme of defence expansion must be left to the Government, whose responsibility it was.

To. Mr. P. G. Hansen's inquiry as lo whether the league favoured pa>* ing interest on war loans, he replied with a definite negative. The method adopted bv the league in drawing attention to the defence deficiencies, he said in reply to a further inquiry, was to educate the public, so that it could show that a majority of the people were supporters of adequate defence measures.

The training of men for the mercantile marine in time of war, Sir Andrew felt, was more a matter for the Navy League than for the Defence League, which, however, naturally would like to see a large increase in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

On behalf of tlio Returned Soldiers’ Association. Colonel R. F. Gambrill thanked Sir Andrew for his address, adding that it was not often that a gathering had an opportunity of hearing vital questions expressed so ably.

It was not right to blame the Governmentfor failing to get tilings done, if the general public was apathetic on the subject of defence, and he commended the Defence League to the support of all present. (Applaus.) He added that the Returned Soldiers’ Association had done its part in convening the meeting, and it wag now for the citizens generally to form a branch of the league if it was desired that Gisborne should have a branch. The meeting closed with a vole of thanks to the Mayor for presiding.