"Weakest Link''

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 21, 9 February 1937, Page 6

"Weakest Link''

N.Z. AND IMPERIAL DEFENCE Needs Air Arm That Could Cope With Raids RESERVE 0F 500 PILOTS "It's no use faeling secure unless w© are sufficiently well-armed for the rest of the world to say, 'They ar© not worth tackling,' " said Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, in an address on "Defence" to the Napier Rotary Cluh at its weekly luncheon yesterday. Sir Andrew stressed that New Zealand was the weakest link in the Imperial chain, and that it was up to her not only to provid© for her defence in case of attack but also to make provision for a small expediticmary force that would he available in case of trouble in the Near East. Visualising a sudden and strong surprise attack on the Dominion by a powerful nation, Sir Andrew said that the Pacific Squadron would in all probability be shattered or annihilated before it was prepared for .battle, or would be bottled up in the shelter of Singapore. New Zealand 's position, fn case of trouble .in Europe which prevented the arrivai of aid from Englandj would be hopeless, and was now less clear than. it wouuld be if the attij fcude of the TJnited States of America were certain. Sir Andrew referred to the visit of Wing-Comm ander Cochrane to New Zealand, and Isaid it was his belief that the country should ,be equipped with an air force sufficient to deal with raids,

and that in addition to this about 500 pilots, as highly-trained as it was possible to make them in this country, should be at the disposal of the Imperial defence authorities. "I think that we should also be prepared to find a small expeditionary force of between 3000 and 4000 men — • say a .brigade — and a number of mounted men," he added. "Trouble is ever likely in the East, about Palestine, and in the event of the Mediterranean being closed to transportjs and battle fleets it would be quicker for a force from Australia and New Zealand to enter by • the back door than it would be for troops from Great Britain to go round the Cape. In addition to this, it is my belief that men from Australia and New Zealand could become acclimatlsed in half the time and thuis be twiee as efficient. " Sir Andrew 's address included some interesting references to the history of the present day and the past 15 years in regard to its effect on. the British Empire but he expressed a wish that the .names of the countries to which he referred should not appear in reports of the address.