DEFENCE LEAGUE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 179, 8 May 1939, Page 2

DEFENCE LEAGUE

GENERAL RUSSELL’S ADDRESS ENTHUSIASTIC HEARING OPOTIKI BRANCH FORMED There was a large atendance at the meeting held in the Parish Hall onFriclay night, when addresses were given by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell and Colonel Barrowclough, on. behalf of the New Zealand Defence League. An apology for absence was received from Mr. J. H. Reid. The chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor, Mr. G- S. Moody, who introduced the visitors, who were warmly welcomed , In his introductory remarks Gemera l Russell gave a short history of t how the people found themselves in. such an uncomfortable position. Me stated the position in 1914 and said the Empire had come out on top but said the nations were disgusted with wax and decided to sot up an organisation to try and stop further wars. The League of Nations had been formed with its Covenant*, but the arrangement had never worked. 1' ow to-day would be prepared to defend the peace treaty. With collective security there must be collective justice. The nations had thought they could disarm and not waste money on aims. The aggressor nations were to be “put in the corner”. Some of the nations supported the plan—others didi not. The speaker gave an indication of the whole-hearted way in which England had disarmed. For some years things went on fairly comfortably but there was an undercurrent- being manifested. In 1941 came the first* serious crack in the League of Nations and the lirst big test. Japan invaded China and China appealed to the League but the League was too half-hearted to take action. The second chance came in 1935 when Italy invaded Abyssinia. Both countries were also members' of the League of Nations. Sanctions were invoked to only a trivial extent, and this made no difference to Italy. That proved to be the League’s last chance. As an instrument to prevent war the League had ceased to exist.Jn 1930 Germany occupied the de - militarised strip of land in the west and later the civil war in Spain broke out. Britain was the only nation which kept the non-aggression pact.Then in 1937 Japan invaded China proper. In 1938 Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, but before this she had committed what is commonly called the rape of Austria. By the taking of Czechoslovakia Germany acquired an enormous increase of strength. Then followed the Memel incident and the taking of Albania by Italy. Sir Andrew considered that* the whole aim and objective of Germany was to gain the basin of the Danube. She had broken one pact after another. “Are we to* trust the word of these dictators?” he asked. Continuing. he stated! that people had to judge the dictators by what- they were doing not by what- they said. Referring to China and Japan, the speaker said in liis own opinion be considered China woidd come ont on to]). In the event of a European conflict, General Franco would help Italy and Germany whoi were in con trol in Spain. Spain would probably remain neutral but mere probably would allow her friends the use of submarine bases and! aerodromes. Merchant ships would be driven well out into tlie Atlantic and the Mediterranean would be* blocked to merchant ships.

Sir Andrew then dealt with the dangers facing New Zealand to-day. The warships in Australian and New Zealand waters will.bo’of not much help, ho stated. In. the Great War it was the ships with the greatest power which always came out on top. Singapore would be only a. shelter until a battlefleo.t was stationed there. He would warn his hearers against living in a sense of false security. Aeroplanes could' not keep off invaders. “What is then the problem ”, he asked. Chamberlain had said the first tiling to he attended to. was the Mother country. Secondly England would protect the trade routes and thirdly she would protect the outlying parts of the Empire. In the lasttwo or three. years the New Zealand Government had built up a very efficient little air force-. The best help New Zealand could give t« the Empire was to he able to protect herself. Close co-operation with Australia was essential. There possibly might he some stage in a war that New

Zealand would, be able to strengthen [ the forces at Singapore. The League was not in favour of a compulsory force being sent overseas. The voluntary basis was the best one in liis opinion. Referring to the United States, Sir Andrew said that- Britain had the moral support of the States and he believed that in the event of a w.ur--g£ she would come in at the finish. He .was not suggesting fo*r one instance that war was inevitable. New Zealand had not taken steps in time to safeguard her security. It was for men and women of 30 to 50 years to take up the question. On resuming his seat-, the speaker was warmly applauded. Thev Mayor then called) upon Colonel Barrowclough to address the meeting. Cod. Barrowclough said he. was going to. tell the audience about the gaps to be filled up. For the last few months they had had the spectacle of people wondering what to do about the defence of thei country. There was a danger in asking for people’s" views. They only got a limited point of view. The. League hacl tried to get information about the best methods of defence. A conference had been held* of all branches cf the service. That the situation was serious was evident. The Prime Minister had viewed the/ position with alarm. That was a- great* change in the official attitude. At one time it was thought that 9000 would be a big enough force. The speaker said he. considered that in a short* time there would be a big increase in the defence force.. Owing to financial stress some years* ago the Territorial Army had been: cut down to* 9000 but the actual figure was well below this. Military men had told the Hon. Cobb, Minister of Defence at that time, that the step being taken would! be disastrous. It had been given nine years’ trial but at no time did they have anything like the full establishment in the force. He suggested that if they could not get 10,000 by voluntary means, how could they get 50,000 troops by such means'? It was useless to have an army of untrained, men. They could get* an armed force to-day but not a training army. War was, a maii’s* job, not a youth’s, game. There was not* a chance in 10.000’ of getting young men voluntarily into a training force. There were two reasons for failure* to recruit up to strength. Territorials were not under obligation to stay in the army. There was no continuity of training. Another reason was that one man said lie"was willing to volunteer butwondered why the other fellow wasn’t willing to join. He thought it criminal to wait for an emergency and then ask young, men to do their part. Col. Barrowclough then gave details of the League’s aims and objects. He suggested a national register of both sexes to render assistance in a time of emergency. They had got to face; up to the position. If they could not make people do the job in peace time then they would have to bring, in compulsory, service. They wanted to* be assured of the whole resourcesof the/ country. The League recommended that, young men at about I*B should go into camp for from three to six months for recruit training. After that for a period of four years some of the men could be drafted! into the Territorial to have short* camps and musketry practice. If New Zealand had a strong defence, other nations would be deterred, hastated, The example of Switzerland was given, t-lie speaker stating that for a long time no nation, had thought it* worth while to attack this country, -which trained all its men for a* period of not- more than 200 clays during the whole of their lives. A strong. New Zealand would! keep off an enemy.

In concluding liis remarks, the speaker .said that England had done exactly the- same as the New Zealand Defence League had advocated in New Zealand. He emphatically stated that the League liad'nothing to do with any political party. The Mayor then called for questions. A .motion by' Mr. S. Maxwell, to the effect that the meeting believed the only thing to do to put New Zealand in a proper position of defence was the introduction of compulsory military training, was? seconded by Mr. J. B. Gcw. The seconder said they were greatly indebted to Sir Andrew Russell for* putting the position so clearly beforethe people and thanked the speakers; for their addresses. The motion was;, declared .carried unanimously. Mr. F. J. Short then moved that a branch of the Defence League be formed in Opctiki. This was seconded by Mr. -D. Clark who referred

tqi the. need of/having trained marksmen. General .Bussell rose and said the seconder perfectly right, and referred to the great record! of the British Expeditionary Force in France. Tljje motion was put to the meeting a nick carried unanimously. Three cheers were given for Sir Andrew Russell. A provisional committee was elected by the meeting, thei members being : Messrs. J. I>. Clark (secretary), iff. J. Baigent, C : . D. Brown, A. E. Bunkall, A. Fetch, F. J. Short, A. js. de Montalk. A preliminary meeting of the committee was held at the conclusion of the gathering.