BRITAIN’S SOLDIERS OF PEACE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 336, 18 January 1937, Page 7

BRITAIN’S SOLDIERS OF PEACE.

TERRITORIAL ARMY’S NEW BURDENS. WAR MINISTER ON NEED FOR RECRUITS. “So far as the defences of thi ■ country are concerned, it is the Ter | ritorial Army that holds the Iron | line,” declared Air A. Duff Coopei j British Secretary of State for War in London. He was speaking after having pre sented the King's challenge, cups another prizes to Territorial Artiller units in the Guildhall. “It is the Territorial Army to-da. that is responsible for the defence o our coast,’’ he stated. “It is the Territorial Army that it responsible for the defence of ou Inland towns from the new menace o air attack. “This is a vast new weight of responsibility that has been laid on tli< shoulders of the Territorial Army, am glad to say that there is ever’. Indication of their willingness to tak» this new responsibility. “During the last three or fou: months, as compared with the’ simila period last year, the increase in re cruiting has been over 60 per cent “But we must not congratulate our selves too early. The task that liei before us in ot\der to bring our establishment up to strength is a vas one. “I have no fear with regard to tin courage and patriotism of the younj men of to-day. They love their coun try and are prepared to defend it, bu j many of them do not realise hov ! immediate is. the responsibility—hov j urgent the need. 1 “They salve their consciences b‘ I saying that if the emergency come tliey would be willing, as their father’ were, to light and die for their country. “It is not their lives we want; il i their skill, their training, and the! knowledge. Al all limes it is the duL of the citizen to do something for th defence of the community in which h lives. “In periods of security that can b« delegated to a few, but we are iivini In no such times to-day. We are liv j ing in times when fearful danger hang over every civilised country h the world, and therefore the duty 1 urgent. “Every man who joins the Arm -—Regular or Territorfai—to-day 1 contributing his mite towards bring ing conviction into the minds of thus who might be prepairing for war tha ■ Britain is strong, and that her wiJ : must prevail, and disturbers of th ! peace, if any such exist, will be pun ! lahed. “The stronger Great Britain is to j day the greater the hope for peace : The more you look round the worh the more will you be forced to th i conviction that in the armed strengti ; of the British Empire lies the great est hope for the peace of the world-’