The Daily News THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. OUR VULNERABILITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 220, 10 September 1908, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. OUR VULNERABILITY.

Notwithstanding nil that has been said or written within recent years on the HUestion of the defence of the Dominion, we do not seem lo make much headway towards .safeguarding ourselves agaiih-t invasion. Against such a contingency we rely absolutely on the security ,u----forded by the pre-eminence oi tlie British navy. Our people decline to realise the possibility ever arising ut Britain being compelled by force ol circumstances to concentrate her naval strength in waters remote from the Pacific, leaving New Zealand for the time being open to the ravages of a raider. The Hon. Mr. JdeXab, speaking at the Ngvilu-o-te-Manu memorial service 011 Sunday, truly observed that we were living in a fool's paradise. The lessons of the past, no more than a moment's thoughtful consideration oi the possibilities of the present, wain

us that no country worth possessing is free from the risk of war. With our present limited population it is obviously out of the question to hope, for some generations at least, to stand the financial strain of an even limited New Zealand-owned navy, and for that reason we cheerfully pass 011 the ''duty'' to the British .Navy at the modest payment of £IOO,OOO per annum. But what arc we doing to supplement, within ths country, the £100,(XIO worth of security we purchase from the British Navy? It is 110 exaggeration to say that the.'e is 110 national question, in which the people evince so little interest as this most important one of all —the very essence of national existence. Our volunteers, so far as their limited numerical strength allows, no doubt would prove a very excellent first line of * defence. But the system is undoubtedly a failure, I in so far that the great majority of 1 the young and vigorous manhood of the country continues to shirk the slight inconvenience entailed by enlistment. It is only so much empty cant to cry that the conditions of volunteering are •not made attractive enough. If the truth were told it would be that the average man, so far from being able ;o truthfully aver that the conditions were irksome, would have to confess that

lie had never given the matter a moment's consideration or inquiry. Familiarity with, arms and discipline such as must always obtain under war conditions is a sacred duty that every able-bodied man owes to his country and those whom his sex charges him in honor to protect. While none doubts that every man wouhfeitgerly rally to the call of arms at the moment of national uanger, how impotent would ie the resistance offered by totally .inskilled civilians against the scientifically i trained soldiers of an invader 1 How needlessly ruthless the slaughter from want of knowledge of the tactics of war! What is wanted in this country is a great national awakening through appeal to the people's patriotism. One hundred thousand lilies in the hands of intelligent New Zealamlers, with compulsory target practice, should lie the

very first provision for the defence of thi'. country. The value ot familiarity with the rillc, demonstrated by the burgher soldiers o f the Transvaal, is of too recent happening to have been forgotten, although jvu have profited not at all from the lesson then so vividly brought home to us. Shooting alone, however, would but partially provide ail adequate system f defence. Field artillery and machineguns in numbers and standard in proportion to the strength of our army are absolutely essential, and must be provided to ensure effectual resistance. And, fiually, that which is as necessai'y as the engines of war—a knowledge of drill, tactics, and discipline—must be illstilled into the bearers of arms. The question arises, bow is the latter essential to be secured? Jloney can buy the * materials for defence, but more than money is required to make effective citizen soldiers. If, as is admitted, citizens will not voluntarily undergo the necessary training, some means will have to be found to induce them to do so. .We personally fail to see any solution for

• the problem other than a modified system of universal training. The Premier recently expressed the opinion that universal service is not possible on account of thi! hardship it would inflict on, emT ployers of labor; but we fail to sec wiiy a system cojilil not be devised whereby, with a minimum of inconvenience to employers of labor, employees, and employers also liable for service, would undergo a few hours' training, at regular intervals, 111 the rudiments of drill. 'Even in countries where conscription obtains, where every man medically lit has to leave his vocation lor a more aless lengthy period of military training, business proceeds without dislocation. We are no advocates of European conscription, but there is a wide gulf between conscription 11ml a system of universal training sucli as Mr. Deakin hopes shortly to create in "Australia. 'Die public conscience first, of all wants arousiiur

11c conscience 111st 01 an wants arousing to the seriousness of the present position. That accomplished, we believe there would be 110 difficulty in speedily putting into operation, a. scheme of universal training. Such gatherings as that of Ngutu-o-tc-Maim undoubtedly serve no small purpose in quickening the patriotic pulse, but the trouble is that, with us, a lethargic indifference so quickly supervenes. Aimless discussion or spasmodic revival concerning the question ! brings us no nearer national security in arms. What is wanted is a strongly conceived and trenchantly espoused scheme with which every mail in the Dominion will find himself intimately concerned. The creator and leader of such a scheme will not, we are convinced, be discouragedfby lack of practical encouragement.