THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1989.
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Conscription
THE QUESTION of some form of
compulsory training for British subjects in Hongkong must neces- sarily be raised as a result of the Cabinet's decision to introduce Con- scription in the United Kingdom.
During the crisis weeks of Sep-1 fember last year, and, indeed, at the present critical times through which we are passing, many men nad women in this Colony have suffered, amid other anxieties, from a feeling of perplexity and doubt where, if the worst came to the worst, their ener gies would rightly be harnessed.
A
ля Was
Some, certainly, experienced feeling of shame that they had not previously made a decision by volun- teering and training for military or other essential service, acknowledged by the fact that recruiting in the Hongkong Volun- teer Defence Corps during the Sep- tember crisis broke all records. But perplexity remains, even though the recently issued Registration of Per- sons cards have given some indica tion of the directions in which the
services of British subjects may be utilised in times of emergency.
On the surface, it would--appear. that compulsory service for all British men residing in Hongkong is even more necessary than in England. In the event of an emergency, this Colony will probably be thrown upon its own resources, with no hope of succour should invaders approach our shores, What is needed in such an emergency in not a mere multitude of volunteers-important as suffelent numbers are-but on orderly and well-trained rota of people who con handle a rifle, take their place beside an anti-aircraft gun, fight incendiary or gas bombs, or undertake one or another of the multitudinous duties which emergency will dictate,
A perennial complaint in tho reports of the Commandants of the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps and of the Military Commands in this Colony has been the apathy shown by the majority of British residents towards what should be, in a part of the Empire likely to be thrown entirely upon its own resources in Umes of emergency,
one of their primary duties,
The complaints regarding lock of recruits for the Volunteer Corps can be repeated, to some extent, by the lack of response to the appeals for volunteers for some branches of A.R.P. work, The Jackadaisical methods of Britons in Hongkong Is also exemplified by the unresponsive- ness shown to the appeals for "antional" Registration.
The arguments in favour of the introduction in this Colony of some form of conscription or compulsory service would, therefore, seem un- answerable.
TAKEN FOR A RIDE
GERMAN
PROD
If Britain were Attacked-1
Look
by
D. GRAHAME
MILLER
This is the first of six articles planned as a complement to our recontTM Where Do We Go From Here?" series. In this first article Mr. Grahame Miller, who is a student of military history and strategy. outlines the immediate strategle problems of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and explains how, eminent authorities collaborate, in forthcoming articles.
will
VENTS of the past month have been an education to the world in the new prin- between nations are now con. ciples on which relations
'ducted.
They have taught us, among other things, a. new meaning of defeat in warfare.
to your
SECURITY
BIL HONDURAS
Pacifiq
ocoon
CREAT
BRUTALH EUROPE
Atlantic
ocean.
GIBRALTAR
AIRMUDA
S
Indian Ocean
10
UNION OF
SOUTH AFRICA
кона кона
Ocea
„BĀ.H. BORNED
OR NEW
GUINEA
HANAMAS
Pikolao
DR.QULAMA
TANGANYIKA
RHODESIA
For more than a century the tribute exacted from a defeated tried; and to counter naval attacks nation has been confined to terrl- on our shipping and our consta torial losses and to Anancial
Anti-aircraft defence has a clear reparations. Its national life has right to the first claim on our ro been left intact.
sources, In view of the emphatic rellance now placed spokesmen of the Rome-Berlin Axis on the ability of their warplanes to pound their enemy into surrender.
To-day, the political, intellectual and economic life of the defeated nation is subordinated to a puppet leader imposed by the victor. The price of defeat is national servi tude.
The gravity of the situation and the immensity of our task need no elaboration. We must give Britain a new leadership: we must support loyally those nations which stand In the immediate path of the aggressor; and not least, we must soberly review our security in the light of the present challenge.
This last is indispensable, for without the ability to maintain our national fo against armed attack and to convince an aggres- sor that he has little hope of suc- cess, our voice will be heard only with indifference.
The British Commonwealth lies scattered on a long line moving from Canada through London to the Cape, and on to Australia by way of India. To defend the of this line against simultaneous Whole attack would be an undertaking beyond our resources. But friend- ship with other nations gives pro- tection to various sections of the line, while past events and the shadow of futuro events clearly mark out these main danger zones.
G
#HEW ZEALAND
shores: on guard against sabot history. But its support and that age will be 6,500 men in the of the 17 squadrons of aircraft now National Defence Companies, with in the Near East would be invalu- the assistance of perhaps 20,000 Regu able to our land forces. Nor could an ar troops and men under training. aggressor fall to take into accour the
For the defence of "our Rhineland forces of our ally, Egypt. frontier, provision is being made for an expeditionary force of more than is the third and last of our danger Singapore, the key to the Far East. 250,000 men, comprising 13 Infantry zones. Here, the possibility of a major It is now widely recognised that Divisions, three Motorised Infantry war has raised entirely new ferues for messures of indirect defence will be Divisions, three Tank Divisions and a our strategists to master, necessary, incaaurea which will take Cavalry contingent, together with The problem is predominantly a our forces to the Continent. We must artillery, engineer and transport per- naval one; for the great sweep of the refuse, as we have consistently refused sonnel not in divisional formations. for centuries, to allow any single craft in Army Co-operation squadrons, which the mine, the torpedo and Indian Ocean and the Pació Ocean This force will be supported by air- gives that scope to the battle-fleet
power to dominate Europe,
A
and its transport and supply ships will coastal-based aircraft have dented it PART from our moral bomber squadrons, short and long
be guarded by the Fleet. Nearly 60 in the North Sea and Mediterranean. repugnance, our security range, may be included in the indirect also is involved, for such defence force, since their function is to power would be freed from the peces aap the strength of the enemy's forces nity of maintaining large armies in by attacking their bases and sources
enormous resources could concentrate
O
UR defence forces, then, azo so distributed a to give us hope of meeting defence contingencles. When the task has of distribution is complete, it still re-
defence of its frontiers, and with its of supply.
The British Commonwealth upon outbuilding us at sea and in the long-standing links with the Mediter mains for each Service to work out
Since Cromwell's time we the problems It is act
ale.
rancan.
Commander Russell Grenfell, who
We must be especially susceptible to have been drawn to the Mediterranean articles in this series "Daily, Herald" In coming any attempt by a great power to for a variety of reasons to defend our readers will learn of these problems dominate Holland, Belgium and the trade, to extend our diplomatis in and of the progress made towards salu Channel porta. For this power would fluence, with countries bordering upon tion. and materials; it would be in a post- India possess great naval resources in bases the sea, and to protect the way to Each of the .contributors has added. tion to put powerful leverage upon our To-day, with the strategical position aspects of defence.
to active servico study of the higher command of the Channel, and it would of Italy and the project of a possibly face the lengua of our long and vulger hostile Bpain, it presents a still more will speak for the Navy, was formerly ablo Kast Coast.
complex problem, 'a solution to which As General Ludendorf recognised we must and. during the Great War, the inde
pendence of the Low Countries is an Important part of our anti-aircraft defences. It so increases the distance which hostlie bombers must cover to our coasts that halves their firo trade as possible to avoid this aca. Major-General H. Rowan-Robinson power and destructive effect.
But apart from trade wo at have will write on the Army. In his recently
on the teaching staff of the Royal Naval Collegd. In the past two years Cmdr. Grenfell has published two TN these circumstances it books on problems of naval strategy. will be imperative to re- and a vigorous and much needed study. -route na much of our of pay and conditions in the Service.
One vital and pertinent question,
It is amali wander, therefore, that, great interests to defend. The Axia published study of "Imperial Defence." however, intrudes. It compulsory
we keep in this country a great pro in command of the Mediterranean ho analyses the case for a Ministry of training is introduced in Hongkong
portion of our forces. In direct could overrun North Africa and estab- Defence and many other controversial REAT BRITAIN itself, defence, wo And 100,000 troops man- lish control over a huge belt of ter factors in our defensive schema. who is going to pay for it? The matier does not resolve itself into the
the Eastern Mediterra- ning guns, sound locators and search- ritory from the Mediterranean to the Air Commodore E E O. Chariton nean and Singapore are · lights to oasist more than 40 nighter Indian Ocean.
who writes on the Air Force, nooda simple ono of telling a citizen that key areas where the dangle of a breach squadrons of aircraft to defeat air Thus it could at will disorganise the no introduction to Daily Herald he has been conscripted for military in the Commonwealth's invisible fron- attack.
life of each remaining State in the readers. In recent years he has played training and handing him a rifte. He has to be trained, and trained thoroughly. He has to be uniformed and equipped.
The average cost of training and equipping each member of the Hong- kong Volunteer Defence Corps is something like $175 per annum. This Colony, certainly, cannot afford the additional burden of training any thing up to 2.000 men conscripted for Bervice in the Volunteers. Our de- fence costs already rauk-both per endita and in the perceiitago of our total revenue devoted to military and PLEASE Turn To Page 7.
tior is very great.
AS
the
For naval defense, the seven battle British Commonwealth; or if it chose a great part in awakening we to the Once such a breach has been made, ships, four chers and 20 destroyers to look elsewhere, it could close its rise of Air power, and lis repercus-
of the Home Fleet will support the pincers upon the mineral and agricul- sions upon our security. destroyers, inincsweepers and escort tural resources of South-East Europe, LI,-Col. T. A. Lowe will discuss the vesselain more immediate contact With the attention of France con- function of our Citizen Forces, with shipping.
centrated upon her African colonies Military Editor of Defence, and the Western Mediterranean, our journal of the Territorial Army, he is forces-apart from the garrisons at well suited to the zaak. Gibraltar and Malia are disposed in On FRIDAY: Commander · Euncil the Near East.
tirenfall on the Navy, " There, our forece comprisć” the - oquivalent of three infantry Divisions..
countries which were initially outside the main theatre of warfare must anxiously look to their security. But we shall save time, money nad energy by concentrating our resources upon the task of assuring the safety of im- mediately threatened territorica,
Great Britain must meet two types of defensive problems. Direct defence, must be carried out by forces based in this country. The task of these forces is to defeat air ralds upon our basCS," t1-nito nt=bunt for air-borne "kabat our centres of production and, popula ago parties" if such an experiment is
This, naval strength will be supple imented by the reconnaissance aircraft squadrons, the Fleet Air Arm and the ring of coastal batteries around our
This 'sories is copyright to locally-raised troops. The Mediter Tank Division, non-divisional and the Telegraph" and must not rapean Fleet, wid its three baltic
man's perdition to be Today's Thought. safe then he ought to die. -RICHARD VINES,
be republished, either wholly ships, are cruisers and as destroyers for the truthin marjakker
hina to wrestle with
Acries of
or in part, without permission.) strategical problems new to naval