The Timaru Herald MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1923. “BE PREPARED.”

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 4 June 1923, Page 8

The Timaru Herald MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1923. “BE PREPARED.”

Netv Zealanders will realise tlib value' of the fid vice given in today’s lierald by a naval authority; f ‘lmprove your Air Force if you like; but don’t neglect your Navy.” Australia and New Zealand, more than any other countries in the Empire, must iaubfuily follow mat advice, and their representatives at the Imperial Conference must take pains to make the position cleaibefore the great men assembled.

Without our own Air Force in the Antipodes, we could still exist in time of Avar. We are 12,000 miles away from Europe, several thousands of miles distant, from Japan; and it is over 0000 miles to the Western Slope of the United States of America. Until further perfection in aircraft is attained, air fleets could not attack either Australia and New Zealand despite the doleful prophecies of Lord Birkenhead, and others. But if the strength, of the British Navy were so impaired as to make it impossible for it to guard the trade routes of Umpire, then indeed would the Antipodes bo in a sorry & 0 Navy League, the most valuable organ of Imperial policy in the Empire, offers a solution. “Be prepared,” it says, and has said since its inception. Keep mighty battleships in readiness, not to provoke Avar but to defend the A r ast Empire in times of _war. And in the turmoil of opinion about the air, Britain seems to forget that the Dominions cannot be bombed by aeroplanes from France (Britain’s chief AVoiry is that France possesses such a formidable air force) and that the Taubes and Zeppelins did not bombard Auckland, Wellington or Dunedin in those dark days of 1914. There was only one reason why the Scharnhorst, the Gneisenauand the Leipzig, strong German cruisers, did not pour a relentless stream of shot and shell into out biggest seaports. That reason was the British Navy. From Suez to Sydney its lines were linked. From the Mediterranean to the Bluff its plans were made. And the result was that produce left for, and reached England with a minimum of accident from the ravages of Fritz and his U-boats. What is more important, men and munitions left New Zealand and Australia month in, month out, from 1915 to 1919. Men and munitions were not protected _by Handley-Pages. They were given the freedom of the deep waters by tile ever-watchful guardianship of some unit of the British Navy. The facts are incontrovertible.

A baby Air Force in New Zealand is of no consequence. "W e are grateful to men like Mi” Wigram Avhose enthusiasm is something to be proud of. But we consider that Mr Wigram’s enthusiasm would have been better used iu battling for greater naval protection for this country. Our utter, isolation Aviii. render us a prey for the enemy ship and not the enemy ’plane'. The naval base may be at Singapore. It may be at Sydney. If it were at Apia, and that: meant security, New Zealand should be pleased, and should give.the Home Government every assistance:.

The upkeep of the Royal Navy, and an adequate fleet for the Pacific should be' a charge on the Dominions, with Britain. Each one of 11s should be proud to pay. And the air can wait for a Avbile.