The New Defence Scheme

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 5, 14 August 1931, Page 6

The New Defence Scheme

"HANCING upon a talk on the above subject from 3YA, I was quite astonished to learn at its close that I had béen listening to a full-blooded colonel! Somehow I always associate the speech of colonels with barks, roars and. clipped staccato-like utterances reminiscent of the noises of a full-grown barrage; the kind of speech which may bore you but will never lull you to sleep, that will compel your attention without arresting — your interest. The talk by Colonel S. V. P. Nichols, D,S.O., compelled attention and interested you; it was a smooth, logical exposition of the desirability of the new volunteer defence scheme, He illustrated to a nicety the suggestion which I have more than once made in these columns that the quoting of an incident or .the telling of a story will compel more attention than all the prosy, logical arguments in existence. Early in his talk the Colonel reminded us that-prior to 1870 the French invented

the machine gun. The secret was so closely guarded that when the French armies took the field against the Germans, none knew how to operate the weapons which, theoretically, should have won any war of the perjod. Lack of knowledge and training cost the French the wars of 1870. The application of this illustration was excellent; it compelled attention, and listeners would have no difficulty in applying the lesson to present day conditions. The pressing need on the outbreak of any war is for trained and capable officers and N.C.O’s. The volunteer system in New Zealand should provide enough material to call upon in case of emer-gency-material which may be spared the usual necessity of gaining fighting experience at the cost of its life.