HOME DEFENCE.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 192, 29 July 1940, Page 4

HOME DEFENCE.

THE decision of the Government to form nine independent squadrons of mounted rifles for home defence in hilly country, taken with the other defence measures 'in operation, may cause the timid, and nervous in the community to jump to the conclusion that New Zealand is in danger of invasion. In our view the invasion of New Zealand is a remote possibility, but being conscious of the fact that in human affairs, in peace and in war, the unexpected may happen, we think the Government is acting wisely in making preparations for an unexpected happening. Although the invasion of this Dominion is a remote contingency, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility. Germany and Italy can be ruled out as they have no nearer base than some convenient spot in Libya, and despite the development that has taken place in aeronautics, to fly from Libya with a ioad of bombs and sufficient petrol for the return journey is hardly to be thought of. As far as an attack by sea by either Germany or Italy is concerned, that too must be definitely ruled out for self-evident reasons. Where, then, lies the danger of invasion? Obviously from Japan should that country embark on any aggressive action. With Britain at war with Japan, the menace to our shores would be appreciably 1 nearer, and lit is against that that we must be prepared. With any nearby island in the southern Pacific in the hands of an enemy, we will need' all the defence we are capable of organising, and not the least valuable form of defence would be squadrons of mounted rifles for hilly country, and we have plenty of that. There will no doubt be a,ready response to the appeal.