The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1920. UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1920. UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING.

The movement in Wellington which has resulted in the revival of the Nutional Defence League is one that needs carefully watching. It is stat id that the promoters, while strongly opposed to the introduction of any spirit of "aggressive militarism" in the Dominion, or to the country being committed to any "extravagant proposals," consider there is every need for maintaining a sound system of defence, so that in the event of any grave crisis developing in the future, New Zealand will be able to protect herself. This preamble bears an innocert-looking patriotic appearance, and it is :;bnly when the operative parts of the scheme are unfolded that its real nature becomes apparent. In a policy statement, made recently by Major-General Sir A. H. Russell (President of the League), it appears that the platform of the League condemns the voluntary system and aims at high military efficiency, involving universal service and costly equipment. A "White New Zealand" is placed in the foreground, as if it were the keynote to the scheme, thus bringing the Dominion on a line with Australia. In amplifying this point the President pointedly referred to what has for some years been a fetish in the Commonwealth •—the Asiatic menace—and, for the purpose of his argument, contended that the storm centre of the world had shifted Eastwards, and asserted that in the clashing of ideals of the East and West, ours j may go under unless we keep our shores inviolate. The League holds that military training should be universal, not military reasons, but for other reasons.

which the President, did not state. It would seem that some more logical argument should be used for making the Dominion a conscript, country than a panic based on Australian fears of a Yellow invasion. General Russell evidently recognises there will be opposition to the scheme, and endeavors to anticipate antagonism by stating that "one of the bogies raised by opponents to the introduction of sound defensive training in the past was that an attempt was being made to introduce militarism," and he adds that members of the League "loathe and despise anything that breathes of that spirit.'' It is idle to contend there is any fundamental difference between "converting the manhood of the country into soldiers," and "purely to ensure that every man capable of bearing arms is given sufficient military training . . . to protect his country." That this military training is not merely for defensive purposes is evident from the President's statement that the League is needed "to wake people up to the importance of being prepared to defend their ideals and their property, as well as to be a'ble to do their duty..

not only to this country, but to the Empire and to the race to which we belong." If this is not aggressive as well as defensive, then plain words have no meaning, and militarism is a myth. Stripped of its padding, the aim of the League is to make every fit man in the Dominion a soldier who can be put into the field well trained at short notice, either for service in this country or abroad. What of the cost? In these days of heavy financial burdens, and the urgent need for strict economy and increased production, can a costly scheme of this nature be justly entertained, or can men be taken from industrial activities to become soldiers without retarding progress? Not unless the need is throughly proved and justified. The League disclaims a costly scheme, and advocates that it shall be "as economical as possible, but it does not want to spoil the ship for a h'p'orth of tar." As a medium for the employment of a large number of officers the proposal fills the bill, but it would also perpetu-' ate an undesirable system that was only too conspicuous. It is unlikely the people of the Dominion will be responsive to the educational propaganda of the League, for there is a fairly general feeling that the upkeep of large military establishments is neither necessary nor desirable, while the withdrawal of men from their ordinary avo cations is unthinkable for many years to come, if at all. It is in the direction of fostering the cadet movement that the greatest bene fit will be derived. The training, discipline, moral and physical development of our lads are what is really necessary to make stalwart citizens Avho, if the necessity arises in after years, can speedily be eonverted into an efficient , armed force at very little expense under capable officers, the latter being trained at schools of instruction and receiving rank according to efficiency. A permanent artillery force and an adequate number of N.C.O.'s could also be provided, so that at short notice a strong and efficient force could be available. If the League confined its propaganda to stirring up patriotism in this direction and inculcating good morals as well as virility, it would be doing a far more useful work than its present ambitious scheme, with its attendant dislocation of industry and unlimited expense.