PEACE AND WAR.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19452, 17 December 1934, Page 15

PEACE AND WAR.

ATTITUDE OF SOLDIERS.

ADDRESS IN SYDNEY, • . Speaking at the Quota Club lunch at Sydney on “Peace and War," Major-General Gordon Bennett said that many people think .soldiers are inclined toward war.

“At one time this might have been so," added the -General, “but the memories of the late war are so fresh and green in the minds of every soldier. that, they have no desire for war. Soldiers do not cause war; they put an end to it, and hand over the maintenance of peace to politicians and other people. “At the end of the Great War Foch said: ‘My task is complete; now your task begins.’ “The only thing that is stopping war to-day,” said General Bennett, “is the memory of the last war. Some’ people say, ‘Do not talk about war,’ but 1 don't agree with this. We must face the facts and find a way to amend them. Great Danger In Europe. “The great danger in Europe today is Germany, and France’s fear of Germany. Under Bismarck Germany became a great nation; but the last war was a great setback with the loss of territory, .which had a serious effect on Germany’s markets. “Naturally there is a desire to get back to where they were, and we will not feel safe till Germany has regained her lost possessions. “In spite of conferences and promises, the rest of the world has not disarmed; therefore Germany has made herself secure and created fear in France. War is the climax to fear, and the feeling between the two nations for so many generations has become intensified with the increase of Germany’s armaments. The man who can solve the problem deserves a halo.” Referring to Pacific (conditions, General Bennett said that the development and extension of trade in the Pacific was gained at the expense of another nation, and might result in war. All attempts to stop war had proved useless, and disarmament was not the cure.