New Zealand and Imperial Defence

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 34, 10 February 1937, Page 2

New Zealand and Imperial Defence

NEEDS AIR ARM THAT COULD COPE WITH RAIDS RESERVE OF 500 PILOTS (Special to “Times”) NAPIER, Feb. 9. “It’s no use feeling secure unless wc are sufficiently well-armed for the rest of tho world to say. ‘They are not worth tackling,’ ” said Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, in an address on “Defence” to tho Napier Rotary Club at it 3 weekly luncheon yesterday. Sir Andrew stressed that New Zealand was the weakest link in tho Imperial chain, and that it was up to her not only to provide for her defence in case of attack but also to make provision for a small expeditionary force that wou&d be 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 bo bottled up in the shelter of Singapore. New Zealand’s position, in case of trouble in Europe which, prevented the arrival of aid from England, would be hopeless, and was now less clear than it wouuld be if tho attitude of tho United States of America were certain. Sir Andrew referred to the visit of Wing-Commander Cochrane to New Zealand, and (said it was his belief that the country should bo 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 transport's and battle fleets it would bo 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 acclimatised in half the time and thus be twice as efficient.” Sir Andrew’s address included some interesting references to the history of the present day and the past 15 yearß in regard to its effect on tho British Empire but he expressed a wish that the names of the countries to which he referred should not appear iq reports of the address.