AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18777, 27 October 1932, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

A GRAVE RISK. WARNING BY COLONEL HARRISON. CANBERRA, October 18. “We run the risk of waking up any day to find Sydney Town Hall smouldering in ruins, the I > lalboUl Bridge a mass of tangled wreckage, and the newspapers containing dire reports that -Melbourne has been bombed, and the munition dump destroyed, and that enemy aircraft is moving on to l)lb\v up tiie railway bridge over the Murray. This was. portion of a grave warning uttered in the House of Representatives to-day by Colonel Ilarr son OJ \.P„ Vic), former commandant ot theTioyal Military College. (JomltMnning us madness the P 10 ~ gressive curtailment of the defence provisions, he declared that the ''at venue was moving towards Australia, ami that Australia was absolutely unprepared. 'flu; speech, which was heard with close attention, gave expression to a growing body of opinion on the Ministerial side, especially among re-turncd-soldier members. Towards War. Colonel Harrison said that the capitals lacked even a moderate provision of anti-craft guns. He declared that Mr Latham's report had disillusioned those who had hoped for tangible results from the Disarmament Conference.

. Europe was sabre-rattling, and in the Near East the situation appeared to be developing rapidly towards war. While Australia remained entirely insecure from attack, such devilish improvements were being made in the Implements of destruction, that should war come the civilian population would be equally exposed to death as the combative forces. “Will Be Murder.” “We in this country can no longer hope to sit back and escape the horrors of war," lie said. "Are wo then to go on basking in the sun- ! light with folded hands till an enemy seizes his opportunity to destroy u.s? ! “On tiie clay which I forecast It! will he no use sitting down to write letters to the -paper, or to hold pro- | test meetings In tiie Domain. Nor j will It be any use men rushing to | the colours —and they will when the : enemy Is on our shores —because j there will be no equipment for them, and they will be untrained. “It will be murder." Iron Hool. "Then it is said confidently, Hie ] men of the A.I.F. will answer the call again. I know they will—all ol them who can. But how many will , that be? Of the original IIOO.OUn, ; there are 60,000 dead, and 180,000 were casualties, cil her from wounds or sickness. Of the 00,000 left, nO.ium were over 3d at the Armistice, and so are now above military age of L">. That leaves 10.000 less the number who have since died or became incapacitated.” Colonel Harrison said (hat Australia was poling on Britain by Icaiilna on tiie protection of the Hoyal Navy, but when we required its help, the

Royal Navy might be fully oooupled hi combat In the northern seas, while we prayed frantically for its arrival, and while the Iron heel of the enemy thrust us Into the dust. Railways Useless. “To proteot our 12;500 miles of coastline, we have of our own exactly two cruisers and one obsolete aircraft carrier,” he continued. “Our Air Force consists mostly, not of aeroplanes, but of buildings. ) It is so starved of money that It I cannot carry out even the proper | training in Hying for its personnel. I “We are told we have strategic i railways, but our railway system is l actually an absolute obstacle to efficient mobilisation. It would bo of ! more value to our enemy than to us. | “The new Sydney-Brisbane coni nection has no more real claim to be : called a strategic railway than has | I he road round Parliament House.” Seize Singapore. “That railway could he made useless overnight by an attack in no ! | fewer than seven places and t ho j damage would take 12 months to repair. i “We should also he awake to Ihe \ condition of Singapore base. It is ; incomplete and could not shelter the Royal Navy, even if that navy could '• help us. i ‘■nur enemy will eonecntrale, on; seizing Singapore, thus depriving the British Navy of any base east of Suez.” j Mr Watkins (Fed. I, ah., X.S.W.) : t What is wrone with I'ori Harwln? Colonel Harrison: From r. dof"ve \ it'\\ ] ii ii 11 1 , everything. Hi Ur; - 'I Singapore Hie hucoiv is likely to

land In Western Australia. What provision have we to meet an attack there? A few short-range guns and a mixed brigade of 1000 men, obsoletely equipped and insufficiently ■trained. That Is all. “Once the enemy was located at King George Sound we would not be able to send one cargo ship either through the Suez Canal or round the Cape of Good Hope.”