THE MILITARISM BOGEY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17733, 5 December 1919, Page 8

THE MILITARISM BOGEY.

DISCUSSED BY GENERAL

RICHARDSON.

In a speech at the Garrison Officers' Club, Wellington, BrigadierGeneral G. S. Richardson said: — "In discussing reorganisation at this period, when war clouds have dispersed, and we all hope that 'war clouds shall be no more,' one is liable to be r.ccused of fostering militarism. By militarism is meant that condition of Government which existed in Germany, where the military party were supreme, and dictated the policy. In other words, militarism subordinates policy to strategy. This can never happen in a democratic country, where there is no such thing as a military party, but an organisation for defence subordinated to the policy of the Government, which in turn is dictated by the will of the people. This was well,illustrated by the delay in declaring war on the part of the British Government in August, 1914. From a military point of view it would have been an advantage if Britain had declared war on the same day as France did, but our ! strategy had to conform to policy, S and that in turn to the will of the j people, who were not united in the cause of war until Germany violated Belgium. Similarly, America delayed two and a halZ years in coming into the war, but here agalu in this democratic country the Government could not act until ths people supported their action. The orranising and maintaining of a force to merely defend one's own home or to assist in defending the Empire is not militarism but protective insurance designed to prevent war. and not to make it —to ensure that we can live in peace, and do not become an easy prey to an unscrupulous foe. Is the criticism of 'fostering militarism' against those who urge that we should have a properly organised defence system as just one?"

Our training in the future must be for a war of movement only, but, equipment should be maintained for trench warfare purposes. Special trench warfare units could be formed after mobilisation. The war has shown that the system of training officers to make quick tactical decisions on the ground was one of the best forms of training in leadership. Officers should be selected who had, or were likely to develop the qualities of physical fitness, and leadership and courage. High shell power guns were needed in trench warfare. Mobile guns firing large high explosive shells were needed for coast deefnee. Questions for consideration were: Had New Zealand trained sufficient gunners in the past? and how should the artillery be organised in the future?

COAST DEFENCE

The lessons of Gallipot and the Belgian coast, and the various rr.ids on the east coats of England during the war showed that: (a) A large area such as a town could, with r.iodern guns, be bombarded at a range of 20 miles; (b) submarine mines were needed for defence of ports of that Power which presumably held command of the sea. In pre-war days the submarine mine was used as an offensive weapon only by the strongest naval Power. (c) Submarines were needed for local defence of coasts. (d) Machine-guns were the best form of close defence of landing places. (c) No matter how strong the defence, raids by night were possible against important defended ports (Ostend and Zeebrugge) and Q.F. guns, star shells, lights, and obstructions were needed for defence of such position. Our coast defences prevented New Zealand ports being raided* during the war, but in the light of the above, should our coast defences be revised?

COMPULSORY AND VOLUNTARY

TRAINING

In New Zealand we were conversant with both systems. The voluntary system of training was .very successful in some units in peace lime when officers were keen and very efficient men were encouraged and rewarded by individual proficiency. Units had a definite aim to work for, sucli.as a competitive scheme which classed units in order of merit and caused men to work for the good of their unit "Esprit de Corps." The voluntary system was. however, a failure in most units, and did not produce efficiency; furthermore, it was a failure in the recent war. and a Territorial Force in« which those who joined must sign an agreement to serve for a definite period and comply with certain regulations.

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