DEFENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 144, 21 June 1939, Page 6

DEFENCE

Sir, The Prime Minister's appea for recruits is meeting with a poor response. He admits he is a bitterh disillusioned man in so far as the in ternational position is concerned Probably he thought that the 19141918 war was in reality a war Io end war. After 20 years he finds hi nisei' the leader of this Dominion in a world bristling with arms and ourseh*menaced by potential enemies; and !’• has been forced against his own inclination, and against all his own pet ideas of world peace and so on to take some steps towards preparing this Dominion against a state of war oi invasion. This is a nroof of the ver\ dangerous position the world is m There are several reasons why the response is so poor. One is that th*' young men of recruiting age have been instructed for years past that anything in the nature of militai training is stupid, unnecessary, and immoral. Another is that for man’, years a terrific volume of propaganda was poured forth that lhe way i" peace was through disarmament Another was that little or nothing n

the way of sound patriotism has been taught in our schools. In addition n» this great publicity was made of lhe "horror” side of war. For instance, frightful and exaggerated pictures oi gas warfare were drawn. All this pro paganda was entirely unfavourable anv sort of military training or naval prepay*dness; and to-day some of itresult, is to be found in the pool response to the Prime Minister’s apneai for recruits. I will not say that it > entirely due to that description of pro paganda; though it is at least to some extent responsible for it. The case foi compulsory universal training is thai every man is trained: the burden icvently distributed, and not mercl.v left to some enthusiastic souls. The word compulsion seems to terrify many hearts. But the common education of the people is compulsorv there is at present a compulsory registration for so-called Social Securit>. there is compulsory unionism. Mr. Savage has been forced Io admit that national security is of greater importance than social security; yet he does not hesitate to introduce compulsion for what he admits is a sec dary matter, and refuses to intro*t e it for a matter which he admits is of first importance. The Prime MimVe: is i logical in hi: general attitude :*• ('.‘.uence, and v r.scquently his app. ' dec , not. prod i ’□ n uch. Similarly with reference to Mr. Semple. His general attitude to defence is illogical and h*' cuts no ice at all. This, however, does not relieve those who are eligible from their responsibilities on account of the country’s defence. It is the duty of everyone to put down his name. The day might easily come when they will he only too anxious to put down their names; but it will be too late. It is a race against time. The opportunity of doing something for the defence of the realm is now available. I am, etc.. ‘A RETUPvNED SOLDIER WHO HAS SIGNED UP.”