CONSCRIPTION OPPOSED

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 177, 3 May 1939, Page 1

CONSCRIPTION OPPOSED

EXPERT’S VIEWS * “SPIRITUAL'. DEFEAT” LONDON, March 24.—Objections to conscription are suggested by the military correspondent of The' Times, Captain Liddell Hart, whose views are in distinct contrast to those of other experts. The first objection, he says, is out practical grounds. The ultimate efficiency would he impaired, and not assisted by enli.sting men before adequate equipment with which to tram them is available. The keenness of many territorial recruits, he adds, is suffering from the Jack of equipment, and; a still more difficult problem is the provision of- efficient instructors. His second objection is based on the ground! of “spiritual risks'.” “We are threatened by nations whole compulsion is an end in itself, a principle of life,” be says. “Compulsion under pressure of their challenge would be a definite surrender,, q£ our own vital principles, and an-ad-mission of spiritual defeat. ■ 3 “Compulsion is. fundamentally incompatible with the claim of defending the principle of individual dom. Further, it is easier to adopt than to shake' off. There, would be «iio such prospect of immediate release as at tlie end of thp Great War. “Once compulsion is adopted,” ho adds, “it will be hard to resist Fan extension cf the principle to other’’aspects of individual life. We ought to think ahead before taking such a step towards totalitarianism.” 'Tv C f <■ * : "••••*.•* 3’