EDITORIAL

Gun Flash, Issue XII, 20 March 1943, Page 1

EDITORIAL

Last Wednesday our first intimation that weather conditions were bad and a wind reaching hurricane force could be expected within twelve hours was given late on Wednesday morning. This gave us all ample time to take what precautions were possible before the main force of the storm hit us that night. By taking those precautions we prevented any major damage being caused. A few tents suffered but, as a whole, camps withstood the blow. In future if’ah attack by the forces of nature Is likely we will, in all probability, be warned. But what of an attack by the Jap? Will there be any warning then?' possibly, but more likely our only warning has already been given -on 7th December, 1941. We heeded the hurricane warning but have we heeded the warning of the Jap? ’The Jap has given us more time to take precautions against him but, if he did come, his attack would have infinitely more force s than a mere hurricane. What precautions can we take against him? There are many. Have we got ourselves physically fit? Are wo alert and keen? Are we striving to acquire all the knowledge we can? The man who has the equipment and is not fit enough to carry it; who has a bayonet. but is too slow to use it; who has a rifle but lacks the knowledge to fire it. is more a hindrance than a help. He has not taken the necessary "precautions” for his own safety and the safety of his comrades. Acquire knowledge now and it will repay us a thousandfold when w e meet the Jap wherever he may be. When the danger of a hurricane was growing every minute everyone went to great trouble to tie down his tent in the teeming rain. Why? to save his own personal belongings - a few pounds worth. Just because a far greater danger than any storm is more than a few hours off are we going to walk around is a fool’s paradise, oblivious of everything, or are we going to grasp our opportunity by taking "precautions", by learning and more learning? To put it off until we are a few hours from the enemy would be courting disaster! Is the man, who went to a lot of trouble to secure his tent •and protect his clothes, going to consider it worth while to take precautions to save a leg, an arm or perhaps his own or his cobber’s life? Surely it is not a hard decision to make?