AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCES

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1926, Page 4

AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCES

A CASUAL POLICY. SYDNEY, January 22. Australians have earned fairly or unfairly a reputation lor easualness. Recent investigations of the state of Australian defences have led an expert, who wishes to remain anonymous, to the conclusion that the people of the Commonwealth have displayed this casunlncss ill the affairs surrounding the safeguarding of this island continent. He may perhaps he pessimistic, but

at the same time he shows that the defences are totally inadequate, lid that a starvation policy is being followed. lie believes that after a quarter of a century of changing policies, and immense capital outlay, the defences are in such a lamentably weak stale that few people would sleep quietly in their beds if they were aware of the true position. This, he says, is known only to the various staffs. In his opinion the weakness of the Air Forces in machines, equipment and trained air-

men. the obsolescent state of the fleet, the poverty-stricken condition of the military forces present an accumulated result of neglect and starvation which is causing serious concern to the Federal Government’s technical advisers. TALK OF WOE. According to the expert, the annual reports of the Inspector-General of the Forces make a recurring tale of woe,

and it is no secret that the military chiefs despair of ever being able to convince the Government or persuade the people of the alarming weakness of the military forces, equipment and munitions. He makes it clear that at this moment there are not 500 trained permanent men, excluding the staff and instructional personnel for the military defence of Australia. He regards the citizen force training as *■ grossly inadequate.” Camps are restricted and technical instruction for officers and N.C.O.’s is neglected for sheer want of funds. This branch of the service is at a standstill, no annual progress being possible and though the training of officers and N.C.O.’s is far more important than that of the rank and file, this vital aspect of defence is neglected because there is no money available. ’ The shortage of munitions is a constant nightmare to those responsible, and a menace to the country. All

three services are short of equipment, and reserve supplies are not being accumulated in sufficient quantities. FUNDS WANTED FOR FLEET. Regarding the Navy the expert says: “Similar financial stringency prevails. To such an extent lias this cheese-par-ing policy been carried that a position is arising when either more funds must be made available, or the Navy must close down certain of its activities. Ships are laid up instead of being at sea, fuel is ratir.i.-d. restricting the ships’ movements, the works programme has been cut to the hone, a proper reserve of supplies, coal, and munitions is not being built up. and present reserves are being consumed. The forthcoming expansion of the fleet, when the* two now cruisers and two submarines have been completed, necessitates adequate provision of these essential supplies which is not being made. The vitality of the fleet is choked and deadened by a parsimony which is equalled in the military forces and excelled in the Air Force, "