Universal Military Training.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3781, 14 May 1908, Page 3

Universal Military Training.

Responding to' the toast of the "Navy, Army, arid Auxiliary Forces" at the Farmers' Union dinner at Ngaruawahia last night, Major Allen Bell said:—"We are, I think, all agreed I with regard to the British Navy. It is not necessary to sing its praises, and I think each and everyone present tonight will say that we have the most absolute confidence in it, and that we honour and respect the mighty dead amongst our forefathers who helped to place the navy in its present proud position. Whenever I see a British man-o'war, I always raise my hat in honour of the heroes of past generations who have been largely instrumental in elevating Britain to the proud position of Mistress of the Seas. But, curious to relate, the confidencse which you all have in i the power of the British Navy is one of the greatest troubles that we, who are working in the interests ot national defence, have have to fight against today. When we suggest the training of a citizen army we are told that we have the navy, and that is all that is required; the great majority have failed to realise the ab?o!ute necessity of providing an adequate military support to the navy; and that is the error which has called the National League into existence, and the error that the League has set itself the task ot correcting, so as to bring the people of the Dominion to a sense of their responsibilities in providing a highly trained and efficient defending force to assist the navy to protect the British Empire the great heritage left to us by our forefathers—the glorious empire on which, it has been truly said, the sun never sets. Ido not intend tonight to waste your time and insult your intelligence by indulging in the claptrap that you often hear at functions of this kind with regard to the defence forces of our Dominion. lam going to tell you that you are making a farce of the duty that should go hand in hand with your religion. You have neglected the duty that is imposed upon you as citizens of a great empire and relegated it to a few patriotic individuals who, under the present conditions, are wholly incapable of carrying it out. It is useless to say that this is the fault of the Government. With as much reason you might say that your religious and moral training should be in the hands of the State, instead of being a duty that is placed upon every man and woman who bring children into this world. The remedy for this unfortunate state of affairs lies in your own hands. When you have risen to a sense of your responsibilities on this great question of national defence, when you have taught your children to offer up a prayer for their country as well as for their parents and themselves, and you have recognised that it is the sacred duty -of every youth and man in the Dominion to be trained to efficiently defend his country, then the Government will act. And when that time comes you will have a defence force of which you will all be proud, and second to none in the world. You will have elevated the national character; you will have shown to our kinsmen across the seas that we as citizens of the British Empire have a duty to perform to our country and our God that comes before sport and pleasure, you will have set a wave in motion which will sweep to the ends of the earth wherever there is a British possession. To the ladies of Waikato belongs the high honour of starting the first branch of the National Service League in Australasia, and to them I appeal tonight. The day of danger may not be far off. Look to it that your men folk are efficiently trained in the art of war; then, as a well-known military enthusiast in Auckland wrote recently, "No heart need fail or fear. In the far flung battle line his place each man will take with confidence in himself, his commander and his cause, and the outcome we need not dread." "Men whisper that our arm is weak; Men say our blood is cold,' And that our hearts no longer speak The clarion note of old. But let the sword and spear draw

near The sleeping lion's den, Our island shore shall start once more To life with armed men.'