The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, MARCH 21st, 1924. AN IMPORTANT DECISION.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, MARCH 21st, 1924. AN IMPORTANT DECISION.

The fact- that tho disarmament proposal in tho House of Commons as affecting tho personnel of tile Army was turned down by 317 votes to ]3 is significant, because tlie important decision was reached under the reign of a Labor Government admittedly antimilitarist. The debate itself too was of striking interest and altogether the occasion appears to have cleared the air very pleasantly. While the Labor party is generally dubbed as anti-mili-tarist. it does not follow that all the other parties are purely militarist. The whole trend of public opinion throughout Great Britain is against ,var. War ts not wanted on any account, but war at times is inevitable, and the nation that is unprepared will pay the penalty. Indeed were Britain unprepared for war she would stand in grave peril these times. It is necessary to porpare for war as an insurance against a dire conflict of arms. We know that when the Great War opened, the British Army was bo mean in numbers that the German War Lord—the Kaiser—called it “Britain’s Contemptible Army.” Compared in numbers with tho German army machine, it was indeed insignificant. But its meagre ranks invited hostility, and when rushed into the field, ill found as it was in guns and transport, it became readily the butt for the German horde marching through Belgium. It was nr. army of quality, which neither knew nor recognised defeat. So it threw itself before the Germans, and contested ever?* inch of the ground. Its tragic stand at Ypres is an epic, a tale of heroism, and sustained effort not yet fully recognised. But the “Contemptibles” held on, and defied the enemy to the end. As an army that finst noble band, the flower of English chivalry and military might perished in its task, but not before that task was completed. What happened in those awful days should he a lesson not readily forgotten by the nationleast of all l>v England herself, who witnessed the departure of that noble

army, and still mourns its non-retum as a practical unit. ColoneJ John Ward seems to have .stated the positon very concisely when he remarked that one cannot moralise with an alligator. The German Army was such a monstrocity. No argument but the retaliation of force to meet force could have sufficed to save Europe in those days; and folk will agree with Air Ward in his statement that it would bo national insanity for Britain to disarm first, and await the pleasure of the rest of t! o world. That pleasure might take an unpleasant turn for Britain. In the making of wars, events come to pass quickly, unexpectedly. There was a rush and call to arms in 1914 such as never should ho forgotten, and we should remember that however well prepared the Empire was then for war, the course of events showed that in

practice she was ill prepared indeed, and an awful toll in men and money was required in consequence. So we may take it that the decisive decision just recorded in the Commons is an indication that the lesson of those days is not forgotten, and that its memory, is a stirring reminder for all time to stand prepared, and equal in some degree to the emergency of the moment. As the course of events indicated very plainly the Government decision in regard to the reorganisation of the Singapore base, is suspended action. The oversea dominions most intimately concerned, India, Australia and New Zealand, favored the prosecution of the policy- The general view of the eastern countries affected is that the British Navy should be established effectively in the Pacific. It is reasonable to expect that China will lie of the same mind, for the British trade in those waters is enormous. Labour prejudged the Singapore question before fully knowing the inside history, and it was on that false premises the Government has decided to act. But it has not been a very resolute net. Ihe Government moved rather circumspectly in the end, and Mi MacDonald's excuse to Lord Beatty some few (lays ago was lack of funds rather than disagreement with the proposal on its merits. Defence is a matter of circumstance, and

as circumstances are changing continually, the policy must he equally unstable. Still it is clear that Britain must have a concrete naval policy. Her maritime trade is enormous and it

must he secure. The policy must ho a complete one, not something of shreds and patches, and so Singapore becomes part of a whole. With that in mind it is not surprising to find that the Conservatives when they return to office propose to take up the Singapore question again. May there he no dire occasion to do so earlier.