DOMINION'S DEFENCE

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1946, Page 4

DOMINION'S DEFENCE

-Press Association

Compulsory Service Needed R.S.A. URGHS PREPAREDNESS

By Teiegraph-

WELLINGTON, Dee. 4. Proclaiming the urgent need for preparedness in thc defenee of New Zealand against any future aggression, the New, Zealand R.S.A. tonight issued an official statement of its policy. The association says it has eonsistently declared its beliet* in the necessity for eompulsory military service in time of war and in this statement on national preparedness it also • afiirms tt\e principle of national compulsory trairi'j ing.

' ' Few, if any, returned servicemen ever want to see a war again — to see their sons take part in another struggle for national survival but all, by" reason of their own experiences, realise the necessity for * preparedness and an advanced state of training," the statement proceeds. "They all know that to send a man into battle unskilled in the use of his weappns, without confulence in his unit, under eommanders untrained iii the art ;pf war-, and in ignorance of the require ments of modern warfare, is tantarnount to signing his death* wafrant. Preparedness, skill at arms,, confidence in a man's companions and supporting units, pliysical litness and the art of leadersliip, are all essent'ial ingredierits in any sound scheme of training. , No man can be efficient without persorial discipline and eomplete faniiliarity with his arms and equipment. No division can funetion without a highlv trained, experienced and. competcn't staff and ancillary services. No. n.c.o. or officer can be tru,sted to lead his men without experience ot command. No. n.c.o. or officer should be appoijrted without having proved himself competent to be responsible for the control, guidance and leadersliip of those under his command. I.t is iinpossible to obtain this experience without

the actual haudftng of troops. No amouut of theoretical training alone is sufficient. Aircraft, rocket and atomie bomb research will undoubtedlv cause modifications in modern warfare, but the linal battle must still, however, be won by more orthodox tj'pes of units. "Tliose who have served . overseas have seen vvhat desolation, misery and chaos can be caused by enemy invasion. Lt is their most earnest and sineere prayer tluit New Zealand will ever be spared the horrors that have befallen so many countries in the last 10 years. "Before the war what littie training there was in New Zealand was largely based on tactics of defenee at the expense of training in the positive art of attack. The R.S.A. believes that with

a coastline as we have and the paucity of population, policy conlined to static defences and c'omparatively passive opposition to landings, can lead only to the futile dissipation of the available forces and their ultimate destruction. U believes from experience that while defensive measures as such must act as delaying- agencies at best, the true and effective defenee of this country must depeiul on highly-trained, completely mobile fast-inoving and hard-hitting forces that can deal with thc enemy attack before he has time to consojidate any landings he may have made. ' ' The* R.S.A. believes the defenee of New Zealand is bound up with that of the British Commonwealtli and should be carried out in tlie following ways: — "(1) Bv talcing measures necessary

to make the country a reserve base._ "(2) By the oceupation and liolding of areas from which an attack on New Zealand can be launched. "(3) By participation with _ -other Commonwealth forces in attaeking an aggressor on his own ground. "(4) The cstablishment of adequate permanent forces for training advice, Unison, direction of research, collaboration with the British General Staff for training and supply of weapons and equipment, and for major strategy. "(5) The introduction of a national universal compulsory system of train..ing* for defencq.witiiout exeinptions ex"Vept on groundA-of cphpcipnce. 1 "(6) Thc ' JlioVffiion of adeqquate modern weapohs'^^||:eqpi|ihi^9t| fqr^he full training of fhe forces enviSrfged !ind for the enuiDment at loast of one

division on an active service scale. "(7) The introduction of a preliniinarv unbroken period of some mohtlis' rraining of recruits so arrangcd as to interfere as littie as possibie with the economie life ot'.the country and the civil training and oceupation of the individual. " (S) The formation of units and adininistrative operational headquarters from senior trainees (making use in the first case of experienced returned servicemen) with provision for a field force, coast and anti-aircraft units, and for a post-reeruit training of the national defenee force. "New Zealand should maintain a navy sufficient: " (A) To providc for the defenee of New Zealand waters against raiders, to clear niines, control and protect coastal shipping, and powerful enough to make a convoy of any invading force a serious matter for any aggressor. "(B) To provide adequate' representation of New Zealand in overseas operations of the Commomyealth forces and to assist in the protection of overseas trade on which it depends. "(C) To provide a basis for expansioli in time of war, and to supply adequate facilities for training in trme of peace with a view to such expausion. "New Zealand should niainiain an aiv force suflicient: . "(A) To intercept and beat off any air attack carrier-borne or otherwise on any likely scale. "(B) To provide adequate representation of New Zealand by formed units in overseas operations of Commonwealth units. "(D) To provide air cover for shipping within an operational radius of our ports. "(E) To provide a basis for expan* sion in .time of war and to supply adequate facilities for training in time of peace with a view to such expansion. "The N.Z. R.S.A. will support whatever measures : j recommended by the Service authorities for making this provision. " .