NATIONAL DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 18840, 5 June 1920, Page 5

NATIONAL DEFENCE

SIR WILLIAM BIRDWOOD'S ADVICE. RELY ON OUR OWN RIGHT ARM. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 2. During the course of the Government's luncheon to General Sir William Birdwood to-day, the General, referring to" defence questions and the future in New Zealand, said his advice was to keep up the Territorial force and make the best use of the experience of men who had seen service in this war. He advised that the authorities should keep in touch with Australia and with India, possibly arranging for the exchange of staff officers. He recognised that it might be difficult for a country with a population of a million to do big things, and in the plans to be adopted he did not forget that expenditure would have to be a consideration.

As to the need for watchfulness he gave plain advice.' He said that the Germans as conquerors had preached the doctrine of “Vac victis,” and the Germans of yesterday were the Germans of to-day. Those who had been into the German land at the end of the war knew that the German conquered was a cringer, but as a conqueror he was a bully. For defence we must rely on our own right arm. Some said that the League of Nations would give us relief from the necessity for ever being watchful, but the most that could be said for the League of Nations at present was that it would do no harm. It could do little good now, although all well-disposed people hoped that one day it might be productive of good.