NATIONAL DEFENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 142, 19 June 1939, Page 6

NATIONAL DEFENCE

Sir, A letter in this mornin “Chronicle” by Kinross Nichol n prompts me to reply to it. Mr. Nicholson says a “tremenU amount of agitation is coming ir m men who, for various reasons, c< not, in the event of war, serve in th. firing line. 1 take it that the gen- . man is partly referring to "returned men.” i am pretty certain that m the event of an invasion of this country by some foreign Power that the majority of the returned men could and would servo in the tiring line, also that they would be called upon and not in vain. Mr. Nicholson in one s-'n. tence says: In the meantime let the rest of u.- remain silent and not lr\ to persuade others to pay a pric* l which we cannot bo called upon 1 > pay ourselves. So lar as f can sc • the position ■ this: Whether we are called upon to pay the price or not, in the event of an invasion or a visit from a hostile fleet, we would be open to bombing and bombardment and therefore whether we were combatants or no:, we should still be in the position -t perhaps being mutilated or killed h\ lhe engines or war. Personally I would not mind that risk (I've been through it before) providing I was in a position to hit haik and so far as I can see the only wav to do that is to “join up." With all due respect to lhe “Territorials” and others that have volunteered during the past few weeks to serve their country, I would like to say that the response by the young men, to the appeal to train in defence of New Zealand, is not very good that is putting it politely. If New Zealand is good enough i<> earn a living it, it is certainly goo«( enough to spend a few hours in which to acquire training for the defence of it. I just wonder what lhe women and girls of this country think of ih<* young manhood that are shirking their duty. I know what, the agents of one or two foreign countries think of them, as 1 have been in a position to talk to them. So, Mr. Nicholson, if you “leave the question of enlistment in the hands of the young men who will be called upon to make lhe greatest sacrifice of all,” well, I guess you will fall in and will probably be sacrificed yourself with women and children and untrained men. There's no doubt about it, one trained man is equal to at least six un trained men, and what is more he if loss likely lo make “the greatest, sacrifice of all.” In the event of war between Britain and other Powers there's no doubt that it. would affect New Zealand, which means that ue should be in a state of preparedness, ’n defend our shores. The young men that have not already joined up would be compelled to join whether »he> liked it or not, as there’s no doubt that if enough volunteers are not forthcoming then the only other alternative is to bring in compulsory military training. No one desires to light or shed blood, but if somebody else brings » fight to us, surely we should be in a position to defend ourselves and those that are not capable of hitting back, such as women, children and old people. I would hale to think that an enemy over the hill was shooting at my family and myself unable to retah ate, and that's what may happen if we do not get ready. An old proverb sums up the whne question, in my eyes: “When in Rom? do as Rome does.” In other words, most countries to-day are in a state of preparedness for offence and defence. Surely the least we can do in New Zealand is to prepare for defence. Now then you young men who are dragging behind, just give the u hopquestion a bit of serious thought, join up and earn the appreciation of those i who are unable to defend themselves. | I am sure that the majority of fpi turned men will approve of what I j have written. —I am, etc., "DEPTH CHARGE .' June 16. 1939.