NOTE OF WARNING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1941, Page 5

NOTE OF WARNING

f ;; SOUNDED BY MR COATES s , FULL PROVISION NEEDED 11. FOR DEFENCE. t — l ■ POSSIBILITY OF JAPANESE g 1 AGGRESSION. 3 . (By TclcKraph—Press Association.) :1 CHRISTCHURCH. February 7. 1 A warning that New Zens kind’s position could be.made , very diiTicult by the enemy r was given in emphatic terms ■j today by a member of the War Cabinet Mr. Coates, in j mi address in which he gave a review of world conditions and an mil line of the Dominion’s war effort requirements to members of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. “If you look at the part Japan may play it makes it difficult for us to realise just what may happen." Mr. Coates said. He also said that beyond all doubt New Zealand troops would be required in the Balkans. Ho urged that New Zealand should be fully defended. Halfway measures would be ; no good. j "With Japan coming into the fray ■ and Germany pressing down into i Southern Europe the position presents j a very different setting from what it j did a few months ago." said Mr. i Coates. "We are inclined to take heart ■ in the fact that the Empire troops arc j going wel overseas. Our troops are. i perhaps, playing a small part but a I very important part in the campaigns I raging now in North Africa, but tHc ■ pressing down of Germany into Bulgaria calls for a declaration by Bulgaria and Turkey, Much depends, I think, on that declaration. That our troops will be required there is beyond all doubt. You can see on that think all the possibilities of a gigantic l struggle that alone will keep us very I busy. "If you look at the part Japan may play it makes it difficult for us tn realise just what may happen. One thing I think is clear enough. In no sense can we ignore the fact that our enemies can tender the position exi eeedingiy difficult for us There is ' much talk as to whether Japan is i likely to interfere with us and you hear .’ people say. ‘lf Japan does we have : America, and they won’t see us go : down ‘ So it goes on. Others say; i All you want is just enough to stop : them ' "But don’t you think it boils down to this. You have either to defend your country or nut defend it. There Is no haK-way course. It is not good enough. I: won’t do when you remember that the enemies opposed to you arc armed to the teeth with the most effective and kites-, war weapons. That is what we are up against. "In the t-.oly stages of the war it w.is a matter «.f just getting our men and conditions as best we could, Our men overseas are not yet JOO jwr eent equipped, so short have been supplies, but supplies are coming all the time. Our boys could take the field tomorrow'. "The obtaining of sufficient equipment and supplu-s t«» put ( >ur men in a position to t.do- the field has been pit-rung and urgent, but the same applies t<> the troop* <«f South Africa. Australia and the United Kingdom in Africa