MENACE OF BIGGER ARMIES

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1930, Page 12

MENACE OF BIGGER ARMIES

BRITAIN’S NAVAL DECLINE. AUSTRALIA DEFENCE POLICY. The result of the recent Disarmament Conferences is that the sea power of the British Empire is gradually declining, though Imperial responsibilities have increased. In spite of much talk of disarmament and many peace gestures. the most powerful nations except Britain are increasing thejr expenditure in armaments, says Sir Henry Chauvel, Inspector-General of the Australian Afijjtary Forces, in his final report, states the Alelbourne Age. As fpr as they arp concerned, the outcome of successive disarmaments and apti-waT agreements is that there has in armaments beep an immense increase. The nations still find themselves compelled to depend on their own strength for security, since security by agreement is obviously unattainable at the moment, and that gratuitous gestures in favour of disarmament are limited to the British Empire alone. _ / In fact, he continues, all these disarmament agreements and peace gestures have tended to reduce British sea power below the minimum required for the safeguarding of Imperial" interests, and' thus to diminish tfie degree of security of isolated parts of the Empire. Australia is the most isolated and sparsely populated portion of the Empire, and therefore occupies the position of greatest danger in tipie of war. Her present ar-mament is not consistent with this unenviable position. In all these circumstances, he con siders that a revision, of Australian defence policy is urgent, hut, as this cannot logically be considered apart from a general Imperial defence policy, it would appear that a general revision is necessary. At the moment, as far as the Dominions are concerned, they are only definitely responsible for their own local defence, though they are committed to pn undefined and mere or less voluntary contribution to the sea defence of the Empire, which- is at the sgine time the accepted responsibility of the British Government. ft is quite obvious to Sir Henry Chauvel that; the provision of adequate naval forces is beyond the financial capacity of Australia, but as she is so dependent upon sea defence it is equally obvious 'that she should contribute what she cgn afford' towards it, having in view her primary responsibility for providing the necessary land and air forces for her own local flefepce. This latter has in the past been considered to ip-, elude the provision of defended ports to enable ships of the Royal and Australian navies tp operate in these waters. It is a question whether the cost of fhe defences of certain of these ports should nqt be a pqrtipn of Australia’s contribution towards sea defence.'

In any ease, it appears that there is a elear-cut issue which should be definitely defined, at least a§ far as Australia is concerned, between her responsibilitiees for her owji local defence and hei comrpitment towards tlje sea defence of the Empire. Tfii? cqmqiitment was oricrinally ‘#200,000 out of a total defence expenditure of £1,532,01)0. (Since the inauguration pf the Royal Australian Navy it has groiyn tp ’ £2,lo[;lffl, or practically half of the defence vofe. “This rapid growth of pqr commitment has seriously qffectpd pur provision for jppal defence, which is our primary responsibility.’’ Owing to the unavoidable overhead charges ip connection with the m a '«ten ailc ® a ? e P^ r C-t® navy, it is well worth consideration whether the method of Australia’s contribution to sea defence is pot more cpstly than she can afford. Then Sir Henry\Ohauvel proceeds to deal with the position pf the military, fpreps and tfee changes which have followed the reversion to the voluntary system. " When the Scullin Government decided to suspend cpmpnls or y training ip November last'the strength of the citizen forces was 74,5f)4, Of this pum? her 40,650 werp compulsory trainees and the remainder 6914 cavalry of all rapks, ppd the officers and. a few non-commis-sjpppd PffiP e l§ other arms. After a meeting °f th® Defc’U'c Council, when the substituted organisation was arranged, all officers, both permanent and mill-, tia, with the warrant officers of the ingtrpcljopgl staff, “rose to the occasion jn a manner worthy of pll praige,” and embarked on a recruiting campaign which, jp spite of th® fact_ that tfiere was fip prospect pf camps in the near future, had remarkable results. ‘When fip was preparing jiis report the figures hftfl reached' £9,344 pf all rank?, pf whom 5311 were cafipts. In nipst units the begt of tfie ppmpulsory trainees haj eniistefk Att'pndftUP® at vqliintary bivoupps had been satisfactory, and the prospect of reaching the required nuipber—--35,Q0Q pitmen forces and 7000 senior cadets as' a nucleus—was good- Tfiere was ft marked improvement in tfie esprit dp corps pf upitg and tfie geneyql bearing pf individual members. This enthusiasm, fie points opt, waa largely built pn th® definite understanding that camps pf training would he restored as sppn as possible, and that more attractive uniforms would b® provided. _ If neither of these concessions is gained during tfie pexf financial year tfie enthusiasm will not persist, and th e numbers for the nucleus pohgiflered necessary for the defence pf Australia will not pe retained. In other words, tfie loyalty and self-sacrifice will fie wasted if sufficient mqney is npt provided tp make a success of the schgme wbieh has promised so well, . Tfie abandonment pf the Duntropn Military Cpijege would, h® considers, be a disaster; th® Only alternative would he tp follow the example of N?w Zealand, and send selected candidates to Hftndhurst and 'Woolwich, in England. He hopes that future economies' will not entail the curtailment of the practice which fifts been followed of sending officers for training abroad, The exchange system with Great. Britain and India should ai§o b® maintained,

Fgr the training pf the new army annual camps of eight days he regarded as absolutely essential. If they go, recruiting will cease. There will be frpquent discharges, and the units will soon fajl below minimum strength. The camps should be reinstitiitgd jn 1930:31. He draws. attention th the impprtanpc of courses pf instruction _ and weekend bivouacs, to, ride shooting, and the need of fostering the competitive spirit in military and athletic competitions. While paying a tribute to the ability and loyalty of the permanent staff during the transition period, he stresses the need for maintaining training oh a high level. Government assistance is necessary to revive horse breeding and ensure an adequate supply of army remouiits.