DUTCH DEFENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20852, 7 October 1937, Page 12

DUTCH DEFENCE

EYES ON THE EAST INDIES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright THE HAGUE, October 4. The intensive measures taken to strengthen the defences of the Dutch East Indies since the 1935 economy period, are described by Major-General Merenschot, head of the Dutch East Indies general staff, now in Holland. Large orders have been placed for aeroplanes, anti-aircraft guns, machine guns and armoured cars. The budget for 1938 includes orders from America for a series of bombers. Any country wishing to attack the Indies must establish an air base in one of the outer islands, or send aircraft carriers and bombers, able immediately to attack and destroy them. Not only will Java be thus defended, but practically the whole Archipelago. It would be necessary, however, to build a number of aerodromes at Muluken and New Guinea.