IF WAR COMES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20732, 16 February 1939, Page 9

IF WAR COMES

CHANGES IN CONDITIONS j COUNTRY VULNERABLE MENACE FROM THE AIR (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON. Feb. 14 The chief adviser to Sir John Anderson. Minister of Civilian Defence. Sir Auckland Geddes , speaking at Plymouth. referred to changes in the con- , duct of war, due to the development Ho said all (he experience gained in j Ihe last war was completely out of j date. Circumstances, weapons and ! mechanical powers were very largely ! transformed and the situation had sn . j altered that it was right to think of I London and the great cities in the j Midlands and in the south as being on j the frontier. I “From the point of view of air j power we are now a Continental j people,” said Sir Auckland, “and our ! great cities are all within a short space ; of flying time from bases that might bo hostile. The next war is practically certain to start with vigorous air offensives. “It may well be that never again will there be a declaration of war before war starts. We know that we in this country will never be aggressors and, therefore, we have to accept the fact that we may have to parry an unexpected blow.” Sir Auckland answered the criticism of those who thought that with so many reserved occupations there would be no men left ts. be recruited. Millions of Men Available Figures supplied by the RegistrarGeneral, said Sir Auckland, showed that there was a surprising total of young men who could be recruited. Between the ages of 18 and 25 there were 2.600.000 men. of whom more than 2,000,000 would be available for recrui'ng for general service, j There were another 3.750,000 between the ages of 25 and 35, less than half of whom were in reserved occupations. That meant that another 2,000,000 could be recruited and there were many more available above the age of 35.