AUSTRALIA’S DANGER.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S DANGER.

DEFENCE NOT ADEQUATE. “STARTLING FACTS." NECESSITY TO BE READY. MORE PEOPLE NEEDED. By Telegraph-Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Nov. 13, 10.25 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 13. It is unofficially stated that the Premier (Sir G. Fulhr) has received a despatch from Europe containing startling facts and proving the necessity for Australia securing a population adequate for defence. Sydney, Nov. 13. Sir John Monash, remarking that he had severed his connection with the Australian Defence Force as there was no room for him in the present system, warned the authorities against a policy of drift. He said: “The Air Force is a sham and the artillery would last only a few hours. Australia would be unable to maintain a batttie for a full day, as it has no bombs.” He had not seen a tank in Australia. Though he would be peppered for making such a statement, he wanted frankly to tell the people the position so that Australia would not continue its policy of unpreparedness. Sir John Monash added: “Lots of people in these days are saying that there is going to be no more war, that we have the League of Nations and such shibboleths. Was there any man who read history who believed such a thing?” Of course, human nature was evolving better things and sooner or later we would find palliatives to make war rarer, but that we would ever succeed in preventing war he was one of those who did not believe.

He was a keen and enthusiastic supporter 6f the League of Nations, but it was going too far to say that because it had potentialities the people of Australia need not bother further. Such a view was like deciding that we would have no more burglaries and dismissing the police. Referring to the steadily diminishing defence vote, he said we were not merely destroying the defence force, but were destroying our means of recreating it. We should accept the responsibility of training a sufficient and adequate nucleus of trained commanders and staffs. Instead of that they were being reduced every day. N.S.W. PREMIER’S VIEW. “AGREED WITH EVERY WORD.” A QUESTION OF MONEY. Received Nov. 13, 10.35 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 13. Commenting on Sir John Monash’s speech, Sir G. Fuller said he agreed with every word. The public must take the massage to heart. The Minister for Defence (Mr. Bowden), replying to Sir John Monash, admitted that Australian defence was not all it should he, but he added that it was now on a better footing than it had been since the war. He contended the air force was not a sham. It was not as big as it should be, but that was because there was not sufficient money for it. He concluded by saying that in addition to the money provided for defence this year the Government has a suspense fund of £2,500,000 to be used for defence if the decisions of the Imperia! Conference rendered it necessary, but so far no advice as to the decisions on Empire defence had been received.