THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Cue (NZERS), Issue 34, 31 October 1945, Page 22

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Jl7 HAT is the attitude of the averrr age New Zealand soldier to compulsory training in time of peace? The answers to such a question would probably prove most interesting and almost undoubtedly would he some what profane at times. No doubt, so long as he himself was not included, in the scheme, generally the soldier would he highly in favour of a system that gave other unfortunates something of what he himself had suffered in uniformnot including, of course, the experiences of war. But whatever are the thoughts of the soldier on the question, there is little doubt that New Zealand will have to introduce a system of peacetime compulsory training for her youth and to see that at all times she is prepared for any military adventures that might arise in the future. With the other members of the Commonwealth and with the United States. New Zealand found that she was shamefully unprepared for the war that broke out in 1939 and for the later threat of Japanese invasion.

Now with the war ended and the Axis countries brought to their knees, it would be comparatively easy for New Zealand to drift back into that spirit of lethargy and complacency that prevailed in the years before 1939. ’’The Japanese no longer constitute a threat in the Pacific. . . .” ’’The atomic bomb has made future war .virtually impossible if civilisation is to prevail.” These * will no doubt, be the cries of those who wish

to believe that there will be no more war and who desire once again to dodge the issue of effective preparedness. There have always been wars when aggressor nations have outpaced their less belligerently-inclined; neighbours. At present when the war is so much in everyone’s mind it is easy torealise that the democracies must stay armed and prepared for all eventualities. The difficulty will be to carry that awareness into the years of peace and keep it fresh. Along with the other peace-loving countries, New Zealand must stay armed and prepared. It is the best insurance against war, even if it appears that the premiums each year are high.

What form the defence of New Zealand must take is for the military, naval and air experts to determine. It is certain, however, that her defence measures must be closely linked with those of the other United Nations. In the effort to preserve this hard-won peace the (Pacific will probably be the responsibility of the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands East Indies, with assistance from Great Britain and; France. The whole conception of offensive warfare had advanced even before the advent of the atomic bomb. New Zealand will have to keep pace with the times in her future provisions for defence. One fact seems certain, she should not again relax the system of universal military training in favour of a voluntary system, as she did in the

nineteen years prior to this last war, whether military, naval or air training or all three, be decided upon. O 7

The Defence Act of 1909 made military training universal in New Zealand for young men up to the age of 21. In 1911 the age was amended to 25. Recommendations of Field Marshal Lord Kitchener during a visit to New Zealand in 1910 greatly increased the effectiveness of the Act with the result that it became a decisive factor in the part played by the Ist NZEF in the Great War. In that war New’ Zealand was ready. On August 15, 1914, only eleven days after the outbreak, New Zealand troops embarked for Samoa. Two months later to* the day, the 'Main Body of nearly 8000 men left for Egypt. This prompt action would have been impossible without the universal training- carried out under the Defence Act. After the war universal training was continued until 1930 after which the compulsory provisions of the Defence Act were not enforced.

If 'the compulsory system had not been relaxed in this way, no doubt New Zealand’s task of mobilising her forces and preparing her defences in

World War II would have been much simpler, commendable though her efforts in the circumstances were. With the’ increased tempo of modern war and the startling introduction of atomic bombs, the need in any future war for an immediate effective defence would be considerably increased. If New Zealand showed that she had an adequate defence against aggression, it might deter invaders from crossing the great expanses of ocean to attack her. To be so prepared, she must have a system of compulsory military training.

It may Hie that New Zealand will concentrate upon air power as the best means of defence. It was the air power that saved her from invasion when the Japanese were turned back in the Battles of the Coral and Bismarck Seas. With only small reserves of manpower to draw upon, her most effective defence might well be her air force. The ’’few” saved England. A thousand young pilots with modern fighters and bombers could make New Zealand an equally 'hard nut to crack. There should be no dearth of aircrew material. Two years ago it was announced by • a high Air Force official that there were sufficient New Zealanders in England in the R.A.F. or R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons to man a 1000— bomber raid with full fighter aircraft escort. A very much larger force of planes could no doubt be manned today. These experienced airmen would themselves constitute a strong bulwark of defence 'until their places were filled by younger men year by year if New Zealand had the aeroplanes for them. There, of course is the main difficulty. An air force of the size envisaged would be a huge burden on the taxpayer’s shoulders. Aeroplanes, with jet propulsion as yet in its infancy, would become obsolete quickly. Constant replacement with new types would be necessary. The aircraft industries of Australia and New Zealand would have to be expanded. It.

could be done but it might necessitate New Zealand putting all her eggs in one basket. Similarly if New Zealand were to concentrate on expanding her Navy to include more cruisers and aircraft carriers and destroyers, the expense involved would be enormous also, even though shared by the British taxpayer;

There are few soldiers who. will not agree that a period of army training is good for a youth. Six months’ compulsory training for every youth on leaving school, with subsequent refresher periods in camp, would be sufficient to produce a well-trained

soldier. The period of training could be done in New Zealand or in garrison duty .in the Pacific. A scheme like this would entail a fairly substantial permanent staff of instructors and specialists, who would be invaluable should war again threaten. The period of training would interfere little with a youth’s career, for facilities could be provided to keep him up to his study or trade in camp. From the points of view of character and physique a period in camp would be highly beneficial to all who could pass the required medical examination. Such a scheme would apply, of course only to training for the army, A much longer period would be required to train youths for the Air Force and for the Navy, but both services would offer many attractions' to New Zealand youth that would compensate for a longer time of training. Until the research in progress on atomic bombs is completed and the Great Powers announce their views on maintenance of collective security it will be difficult, in fact almost impossible, for any nation to formulate any definite policy of defence. New Zealand will have to await developments with the rest of the world. But one thing seems clear. Some system of compulsory military service will have to be introduced and maintained for many years to come —in fact, until that Utopian state is reached when the threat of war has been removed forever.