WELL PREPARED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4428, 21 May 1941, Page 4

WELL PREPARED

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. WILL MEET ANY ATTACK. “ If the Netherlands East Indies are attacked they will certainly fight, and they are well prepared to defend themselves,” said Mr E. N. Van Kieffens,' Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, who has arrived in New Zealand from Sydney on a brief visit on his way back to London, where the Netherlands Government has its headquarters. He is accompanied by Mrs Van Kieffens, Mr C. J. I. M. Welter, Colonial Minister, and a staff of three. Though both Ministers said they were not expert in military matters, they spoke with enthusiasm of the defences of the Netherlands East Indies, which, they said, were growing progressively stronger ever’’ week as fresh supplies of aircraft and other equipment arrived from the United States. A high compliment had recently been paid to the air force of the Netherlands East Indies by Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert BrookePopham, British Comlmander-in-Chief in the Far East, and this branch of the Archipelago’s defences had the most modern equipment available. Fighters, medium bombers, and divebombers of standard American make were already in service in substantial numbers, and many more had been ordered. All the pilots were Dutchmen, and, though none had yet seen service, Mr Welter said he was sure they would give a good account of themselves if called upon to fight. The Dutch were as air-minded as any other nation in the World, and if more warplanes could be obtained, fully-trained crews for them would be readily available. In reply to questions concerning the attitude of the large native population of the Netherlands East Indies to the war, Mr Van Kieffens said some of the natives, specially those living in the more remote parts, naturally knew little about it. Not all the native races made good soldiers, but some did, and were well represented in the forces. Both Ministers expressed pleasure at the opportunity of visiting New Zealand and of meeting members of the Dominion’s Cabinet. They left for Wellington later, and will have conversations with the acting-Prime Minister, Mr W. Nash, and other Ministers before leaving for the United States by air in about a week’s time.