BETTER SPIRIT NEEDED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20511, 1 September 1936, Page 4

BETTER SPIRIT NEEDED

MILITARY TRAINING IN DOMINION ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN G. R. LEE “I have no wish for people to go out on the streets confirmed militarists and wave flags. All I ask is that they think about this important matter.” In these words Captain G. R. Lee concluded an address to members of the Timaru Rotary Club yesterday, in the course of which he appealed for a. more intelligent and more sympathetic understanding of the voluntary defence system in New Zealand.

The chairman for the day was Mr J. J. Duncan, who introduced the speaker.

Captain Lee recalled the shock experienced recently as a result of the position in the Mediterranean when the British fleet was marshalled for possible developments. That shock was accentuated in Australia and New Zealand because we saw our vessels despatched to the Mediterranean to bolster up the fleet in those waters. We were left without naval protection. The British Empire no longer possessed a two-power navy. Without an ally she could not now resist the naval forces of any other two countries in the world. In the army the position Was worse because infantry had been broken up for mechanised units and had not been replaced. British air development, however, had reached a very high standard.

Political Situation

The political situation the British Empire found itself in gave much more cause for alarm, said Captain Lee. In 1914 Britain entered the war With Japan a staunch ally who performed valuable service in keeping the Pacific free from war. If war broke out today Japan might be a bitter enemy—she certainly would not be an ally. We Could not expect the protection of the navy if it was engaged in other parts. There must very shortly be some form of expansion by the Japanese people and while some claimed that Manchuria would be their goal they had had the opportunity of going there for many years and had not availed themselves of it. Manchuria was too cold, and the Japanese would not live in any place where the climate was not suitable. Japan had a population of something like 94,000,000 and the increase every two years more than exceeded the population of New Zealand. We were Often told that the navy would keep our seas open for us in New Zealand and that the United States would not stand by and see Australia and New Zealand dominated by a yellow people. That might be so, but owing to the diverse nature of the American population that country, it is claimed, would not be able to do anything for us for at least a year. What were we to do? Could we do anything?

Position in Dominion

There was only one man who could advise on military matters, said Captain Lee, and he was the trained soldier. There had been much criticism of the territorial force in Few Zealand and much suggestion of what ought to be done. Our first duty was to take an interest in what our Government laid down as policy and make up our minds to give any support possible. To-day New Zealand had a land force of about 2,400 territorial officers and 8,000 men in the ranks, 100 serving officers and a number of non-commis-Sloned officers. Under the compulsory military training system we had a force Which cOuld be employed for war at a month’s notice. When Sir Joseph Ward made the pronouncement that compulsory training would be abolished a lot of officers thought their troubles would be over in that the voluntary system would promote a keen spirit and the right trainees with the will to train would be forthcoming. The Voluntary system, however, had not been followed up as it should have been and he doubted whether it had been worth the money spent on it. The Government, too, was not giving the support it should. Another trouble was that as a result of the valuable efforts made in certain quarters to bring about peace the territorial force had been obliged to keep in the background. The result was so poor that the background business had to Stop.

A territorial force, captain Lee explained, had two functions. The first was the training of leaders among the people, and it had carried out that alm quite definitely. The second was the taking in hand of the young man from 18 to 24 years of age and giving him training in military practice. The men who came forward were very willing, but types Who Were badly wanted had not answered the call to the extent they should. He had it on the authority of a high officer, who should know, that unless the voluntary force was a success this year compulsory training would be back next year.

Difficulties in England

Captain Lee said that in England difficulties much the same as in New Zealand were being experienced. In a speech before the British Bankers’ Association, the Lord Chancellor, Viscount Hailsham, was reported as saying: “There was another direction in which national defence must be cared for by the nation and not by the Government. This country alone of the great nations of the world depended on a citizen army. Everywhere else conscription compelled military service. In Britain alone trust was placed in voluntary help of ks citizens, and It was not too much to say to the youth of this country that since the next two years of their lives were not claimed military training they should at least be Willing of their own free will and accord to give up that time and leisure which were necessary to make them ready to defend their country if ever there should come a time of war. Since 1914 the professional army had been enormously reduced in numbers. Since that time the responsibilities of the territorial army had been correspondingly increased. Only in 1932 the coast defences of Britain were handed over to the territorial army and only last year the anti-aircraft defence was handed over to the same body. To employers, he would say that he would like to see the younger leaders of

commerce and industry themselves taking their part as leaders of the territorial army and organising units in their own business houses and factories. To the older employers was it too much to ask that they would at least do their best to make it easy for those whom they employed to discharge their duties in the territorial army and that they would see that facilities were given for the necessary drills and camp life ” “The military authorities in New Zealand are asking you to think about the subject,” said Captain Lee. Citizens were asked to think u it was not their own responsibility and duty to give their support. They were asked also to give the New Zealand territorial force a fair trial for anothe.- year, and if it was still not a success to accept what the Government provided. On the motion of Captain E. W. D. Unwin, who appealed to employers to make it easier for employees to attend annual military camps, Captain Lee was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.