DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 287, 5 December 1945, Page 4

DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

THE arrival of the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand 1 Forces (Lieutenant-General Puttiek) in Wanganui to-night serves as a reminder that a defence policy for New Zealand in the future is in the making. Taking a lead from the United Nations’ Conference, New Zealand will accept the doctrine that the world must hare an armed force of some kind to enforce world peace—a sort of armed police, to keep the pace just as the civil police keep law and order within our own country. Naturally, there will be something new in outlook as regards defence compared with the old, and attention must, of necessity, be paid to the air and the sea, and to a natural blending of command in respect of both. But behind both services must be land forces, because, in a final showdown, New Zealand can only be conquered by occupation. Japan was conquered only when MacArthur landed; Germany was doomed only when Eisenhower, Montgomery and Zhukov occupied the rubble" of Berlin. Lieut.-General Puttiek, on the eve of his retirement, should have something to say as to what form of training and service is required in this country. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, there is still much to be said for the compulsory system, whereby not only every able-bodied man, but every ablebodied’woman should be trained in a part to play. Any standing force must be made attractive to those who enter it as a permanent livelihood. The future of the New Zealand Staff Corps (kernel of of the Dominion’s Army), the adaption of the country to the use of new weapons, the awakening of public consciousness to realisation that we must still be fitted to defend ourselves —these are problems which are even now the deep concern of the combined Chiefs of Staff. If General Puttiek to-night can give some lead as to the trend of the expert mind on these matters, he will help to keep New Zealanders aware that although the peace bells Jiave rung, no nation can afford to ignore strength in defence. Over-riding defence as we know it, of course, is atomic energy, a reminder that the scientist has as big a part to play as the soldier. War has been made total war, and defence must be sufficiently adequate to meet total war. Of tiie Army side of it no authority in the Dominion should be able to speak with more confidence than General Puttiek.