Page 18 Advertisements Column 2

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 18

“The history of the British race for 1000 years, during its evolution from a avage tribe to the British Empire of to-day. is a history always associated with the sea." said Sir George Pearce, Commonwealth Minister of Defence, when announcing the new defence policy. “Our very existence has always depended, and still depends, on the safety of our trade, and hence on our sea communications. We are a great maritime Power, and a maritime Power can only be destroyed by internal dissension, or by an attack by a greater maritime Power. Hence a sufficient navy is a deterrent against such attack, and is the weapon most capable of winning a war thus caused. This is realised by the other great Powers which, since the war, have increased their naval forces and the efficiency thereof to a strength hitherto unknown. Australia as an island continent is dependent on sea communications for her existence. The defence policy of Australia is framed to protect the country from aggression. To people who have not made a study of war, aggression signifies a direct attack upon the country—the bombardment of important centres of industry, either by ships cr aircraft, the landing of raiding parties, and even invasion. To protect the country from these threats they suggest that Australia should concentrate on shore batteries, aircraft, destroyers, submarines and mines, while maintaining the organisation for a larger land force to fight the possible invader on Australian soil.