DANGER TO OUR SECURITY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1929, Page 8

DANGER TO OUR SECURITY

(From “ The Navy.”)

At the present time there are many circumstances arising which point to the possible advent of a great danger to our Empire. in a large sectioned the popular press articles and letteis are constantly appearing which present entirely erroneous views, and the speakers and publicists of over twenty societies are engaged in propaganda which is not only anti-British but dangerous to our security. The argument, the most widely employed by them, is to the effect that, “ Armaments arc a cause of War,” oi as it is sometimes expressed, that “ Disarmament would help the cause of Peace.” It, perhaps, need hardly be said that this argument is fallacious. Wars are hot brought about and have never m history been brought about as the result of armies and navies; indeed, before the days of what may be described as organised military and naval forces they were just as frequent and even more fierce than in the last few centuries.

The abolition of armed forces, so far from helping towards the preservation of Peace, would lead to its disruption. That would appear to be so obvious as to require little argument in its support. As well might be said that ‘‘the police cause crime,” as that “ Armaments cause wars ” ; and or.e only has to state this to show its absurdity. Nevertheless, it is a fact that numbers of otherwise sensible people are being persuaded into a belief in such fallacies, even) level-headed and thoughtful men being heard frequently to argue on public platforms that it would be an excellent thing if the Navy were scrapped. A great number of women, too have been so inoculated with the propaganda of the Pugnacious Pacifists as to appear to forget that the security of their homes and families, as well as their food supplies, entirely depend upon the upkeep of adequate armed forces.

Suggestions have lately been made in certain quarters that the naval building should be curtailed and our very much reduced and depleted Navy still further attenuated —in particular, that the submarines which were to be built should be cancelled, without regard to what may be done by other nations in this respect.

We hold no special brief for the submarine, and it may be that at some future time this particular weapon of warfare will be superseded, but undoubtedly at present it is a very valuable weapon, more-especially to powers whose fleets are weak. And .here .the difficulty arises, for naturally such powers will not'be prepared readily to abandon what they consider to be their best means 'off defence. This being so, obviously it would be suicidal for us to cease to build this particular class of vessel.

The pacifist suggestions above referred to, can be traced to three sources, namely: '

(a) Cowardice. —The fear of having some day to fight.

(b) Alien Influence. —The hope of other nations that by their propaganda they will fool us into disarmament. (c) Idealism. illusive hopes of creating a Utopia that can exist only in their imagination.

Of these by far the most dangerous is the second. Aliens who own newspapers, write in our Press, and lecture in our colleges and schools, do an immense amount of harm, and have invented for the downfall of our Empire a new species of internationalism, which through clever propaganda, does everything to weaken our Empire and subvert its subjects. Let it at once be stoutly and openly stated that it is upon our armed forces, and especially our Navy, that the whole peace and prosperity of our < nation depends-; and that if such forces are so whittled down as to present a favourable opportunity to our enemies, then war is certain and our defeat is probable.