The Sun WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1914. MILITARY AND NAVAL DEFENCE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 166, 19 August 1914, Page 4

The Sun WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1914. MILITARY AND NAVAL DEFENCE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Recent events have proved the wisdom of the military defence legislation of the Ward Government, and the naval policy of the present administration in a very striking way. We shall hear no more derisive references •to "toy" navies from newspapers and politicians that ought to have known better, and "whatever differences of opinion there may be on domestic-mat-ters, there will be unanimity at any rate regarding the provision of a more powerful naval force in the Pacific in the future. Australia has sa*ed the situation in these parts, and it is the Australian Navy which makes it possible for New Zealand to assist in attacking the enemy in the Pacific. The Bristol cruiser, which the Government contemplated ordering prior to the war, would have been'of the utmost value at the present time, had she been available, as. an escort for our transports containing the advance party, and in her absence, the duty must have devolved on one of the Australian cruisers or H.M.S. Encounter. Escorts will also be required for the transports leaving with the troops that are going to England, and for ajl we know' the Imperial authorities may deem it necessary to detach some cruisers from the Atlantic Squadron to ensure the safe arrival of the men we are sending to the front. But the present war makes it clear that in times such as these the Dominions must rely mainly on themfor their own protection. Fortunately the best of relations exist between Britain and the United States, and the- friendship of Japan is secifced fior what" it 'is worth, by means of a: treaty of alliance. This happy condition of affairs may not always endure. If Britain emerges from the war stronger than ever, she will not lack friends either oh the American Continent or in Asia, but the outstandiatg fact remains, that whenever Britain is involved in a European .war, British possessions in the Pacific are more or less at the mercy of two powerful nations, whiwh have never shown any particular scruples about acquiring the territory of people who were unable to resist aggression.- It is said by many persons with pretensions to some sort! of authority on the subject that the present war will not last long, and that normal relations between the various countries will soon be restored. There is no warrant whatever for any such assumption. - If modern history teaches us anything at all, it is th«t one war is likely to lead to another; that alliances rarely survive a war, and that concerted warfare on the part of several nations generally results in a quarrel over the spoils. As far as we in the Pacific are concerned, therefore, we should look to the future," and after the Expeditionary Force is gone the best energies of the Government should be devoted -to reviewing the situation with a view to further strengthening our defensive position. The goal to be aimed at is self-reliance in the matter of .defence, and there can be little security worthy of the name till it is achieved.