1936-02-07 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG, TELEGRAPH: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1936.

NATIONAL DEFENCE: GLARING DEFECTS OF

THE WHOLE TRUTH

WHAT

THE

COUNTRY

IS NOT TOLD

INSIDE STORY OF THE CRISIS CE

PEACE

London, Jan. 16.

HE Morning Post to-day placed before its readers T

a full review of Britain's position in the present international situation.

The facts are grave and unpalatable, but they have been collected from unimpeachable sources. It should be emphasised that everything now to be put before the public is already well known to our possible enemics. Only the British public remains ignorant of the real state of affairs, and sound judgment of policy cannot be found- ed on ignorance of the facts.

IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST

While the disclosures may be considered distasteful and startling, they justify neither panic nor pessimism. Indeed, it will be obvious that it is in the national interest that the facts should be properly appreciated and calmily considered-while there is still time for the necessary action rather than that the country should drift unknowingly into real danger.

Serious attention is directed to the general review of the whole problem which appears below, and to the further and more detailed articles which will appear to-morrow and in subsequent issues.

ABYSSINIA-AND

AFTER

י.

"I have seldom spoken with greater regret, for my lips are not yet unscaled. Were these troubles over I would make a case, and 1 guarantee that not a man would go into the lobby against us. "MR. BALDWIN, in the House of Commons on December 10, 1095.

Twenty-four hours before Mr. Jdate at the General Electlost to in-i Baldwin made this pronouncement crease our defences. But It was In the House of Commons, the realised that it would take time to Cabinet had endorsed the ill-fated carry this mandate into effect. Hoare-Laval peace terms,

Therefore, as the Abyssinian war Following are the principal still continued in spite of League reasons that inspired them to do action, and in view of the obylous so. They constitute the "case"-dangers entailed in applying referred to by Mr. Baldwin-which, further sanctions, the Government if it had been known at the time, know that it was urgent for the would have given pause to even future peace of Europe that the those who disliked the terms in conflict should be settled as soon themselves and wore most eager to [as-possible. criticise the Cabinet for endorsing Sir Samuel Hoare's action in put- ting the terms forward.

The Immediate Danger

Great Britain was-and stifi la- faced with an internationai situn tion of great gravity. That is the considered opinion of those in the best position to judge.

Potential developments in tho Abyssinian war constitute the im- mediate dangor, not so much in themselves, but because of their 'probable sequel.

At no time have the Government doubted the ability-of-our-defence forcen to deal with any situation. that might arise immediately out of League of Nations action in connection with the Abyasinlan conflict; although it has been realised for some time that the *brunt of any such action would fall

on. Great Britain.

Bat such is the deplorable condition of our defences to- day, and so certain is it that other members of the League would be unwilling or uñable to provide effective help, that even the losses such action would inevitably entail-rela- tively small as they might well be would leave this country perilously weakened.

That is why the Government originally endorsed the Hoare- Laval peace terms, however | much all concerned may have disliked the terms in them selves.

་

As Sir Samuel Hoare said in his speech in the House of Commons on December 19:

pence

"Neither M. Laval nor I liked many features of them (the peace proposals). But that basix did. seem to us to be the only basis upon which it was even remotely likely that we could at least start # discussion. So far na I myself was-concerned--it-acemed-to-

to-me-to ho so important to start a negotia Lion, eve

even if it had to be on this basis, that much as I disliked some features of the scheme, I could not withhold my provisional assent. felt that the issues were so grave and the dangers of the continuance of the war were so serinus that was worth making an attempt, and that it was essential to maintain, Anglo-French solidarity. It was in this spirit and this spirit alone that we agreed to the suggestions. That alono is the explanation and Justi fication of the Paris communique."

France Will Not March ··

In addition, three further con- siderations make the position more serious;

The first is, that it has become

They Said-

Only three of our capital ships to-day are post-war. The design of the remainder dates from the days before aircraft attack had to be taken into account, and man of our cruizers are obsolete as regards modern requirements,

Mr. Baldwin, in his Broad- -cast speech on October 25, 1935. Throughout all these dificult and anzious weeks it has been mude abundantly clear to us that have been gravely handicapped by the fact the knowledge of which is widespread upon the Continent--that our defensive forces have fallen to a dangerous- ly low level.

Mr. N. Chamberlain, ut Kelso, September 21, 1935,

The worship of force in many parts of the world compels us, in the interests of world peace, lo look to our own defences.

Sir Samuci Hoare, Hansard, October 22, 1935..

น

Unless this great_country ours possessor a Navy that suprome-and if it is materially. ognal, it will bo supremo-we shall, I believe, lose this prest Empire, of ours, and we will not be able to fulfil the great obliga tina we have undertaken all over the world.

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes. Authors Club dinner, December 2, 1935,

A fleet of British ships of war are the best negotiators in Europe. They always speak to be under. stood, and generally gain their point. Their arguments · carry conviction to the breasts of our enemies.

Nelson to Lady Hamilton in a letter written from the St. George, March 13, 14, and 16, 1801.

policy, and it became all the more imperative to obtain peace outside the League.

"Not a Ship, Not a Man"

Sir Samuel Hoare obviously had these considerations in mind when, in the speech-referred to, he stated;

"We alone have taken these mili- tary precautions. There is the Brilish Fleet in the Mediterranean, there are the British reinforcements in Egypt, in Malta and Aden. Not a ship, not a machine, not a man has been moved by any other mem- ber State. Now that negotiations have falled, we must have BOME→

BRITAIN'S DEFENCE

FACTS ABOUT

•

THE FLEET:

SHORTAGE OF SHELLS

The following summary shows the position in which Great Britain has been placed by the neglect of her de- fences in recent years.

In succeeding issues of the Morning Post the defects epitomised below will be subjected to detailed examina- tion. NAVY

1. Since the Great War stocks of ammunition have been allowed to, fall far below the usual re- serve. As a result, when the Fleet went to the Mediter ranean, there was barely enough Ammunition available.

2. Arrangements for rapid ex- pansion of manufacture of war material by private firms have not been made, and State ar Benais incapable of meeting] our full needs.

3.

4.

6.

7.

aro

re-

Naval

personnel is seriously inadequate, and it will take some years properly to train the additional personnel quired The

The present shortage is imposing an unfair strain on the existing personnel.

We have not sufficient force to

safeguard our food supply in of with a Great

War Wi The event Power possessing a large and efficient force of submarines commerce ralders. Both Ger Italy have large many and forces of efficient submarines and other craft suitable for attacking trade routes.

Our

cruleer and destroyer -strength is far below what in Our battleships are

necessary.

.

have been for many years,

4. All the standard tanks are

out and obsolete.

5. Special tanks to co-operate with Infantry are not yet avail- Runk able, nor are anti-tank which are needed for bafli Inen! and "area" defence.

6. Cavalry and Infantry are using out-of-dato and unrellable automatics, - Judged by modern standards.

7. Under the new scheme, the Army lacks a considerable num- ber of machine-guns.

8.

With the increasing mechanis- ation of the Army, it is more dependent than ever before on Imported oil. (See Naval posi- tion.)

་-

9. There is a very serious de- fielency of modern anti-aircraft guns.

10. The Regular Army is deficient)

in anti-aircraft units.

11. There is little or no provision

for

the anti-aircraft defence of Anywhere in the country except Greater London.

12. The Territorial Army, which is solely responsible for Home anti-aircraft defence (ground troops),

is seriously under) strength. It also lacks the latest selontific equipment.

mainly obsolete or obsolescent. AIR FORCE

Certain technical considera- tiona arc liable to entail a dangerous delay in the building of the new ships which are so urgently needed.

Our oil supply, in the event of war, would be in jeopardy. ARMY

1. To-day the Regular and Terri- ́torial armies and reserves, total 461,453 as compared with 697,110 in 1913-n`reduction of 245,056.

2.

Apart from the Army reserve, which would be absorbed or motion in bringing the

Army up

to war

the only reserve for strength, the the Regular Army is the Terri- torial Army. Since the War, even the Militia, which was the reserve for the Regular Ariny, has been abolished, 3. The reserves of stores and equipment are lower than they

1. Our strength has been allowed to fail far below danger point. At present rates of expansion, Germany will have 2,000 first- lino aeroplanes by March, 1937, while Great Britain, with heavy overseas commitments, will have at most 2,400 machines, of; which only 1,500 will be avail able for home defence,

Z. The Fleet Air Arm is in-

adequate.

3. Other countries have already.

expansion

4.

facilitics greater

The

than this country, number of strategical aerodromes-in-the-Empire is in owing to the small scale of our subsidiaed commer- cial flying.

adequate

5. Our heavy bombers are in- sufficient in numbers relative to other types.

6. Our provision for stimulating and maintaining, technical de- velopment is inadequate.

more than these general sudden and perhaps unprecedented rotestationa

of loyalty to the wave of hysterical propaganda Grave of League. I say that again, not be against them. For a time a large cause we, the British Empire, are section of the public, led by most afraid of an Italian attack upon us, of the Press (even those organs but because without this active co-

British Hero

Ethiopia

operation collective security, Is Im-. that had previously given blind possible, and the Lengue will dis-support to the Government) and by In

were

The

Adigrat, Jan. 26,

British

of grave

A

solve. say it further

Ithe League of Nations Union, threw because belleve that without this active conside-restraint-and-united-in-an oporation it will be impossible to emotional storm of disapproval. havo more than an unsatisfactory Practical considerations peace. You cannot have a 100 per ignored; even the terms themselves hero who died during the Napier cent. peace if you have only got were stifled at birth without calm campaign in Ethiopia is being 5 per cent. co-operation that goes consideration. Few stopped to con- tended near here to-day by the to the making of it.....

sider that the Government might Italian Army. "It is a choice between the full have excellent rensons, unknown to co-operation of all the member the public, for endorsing Sir Samuel States, and the kind of unsatle- Hoare's action in putting these factory, compromise that was con- terms forward. templated in the suggestions which M. Laval and I put up."

Behind the Scenes

It is the final resting place of Colonel A. R. Dunn, who had been awarded the Victoria Cross for valour on the field of battle, Around him are buried five Italian soldiers and three Italian officers but this humble graveyard in the shadows of the mishapen Amba Matara mountain peak is called the "English Cemetery."

To-day Great Britain standa almost alone, with no friends In this wave of excited feeling, on whom she can count, and Mr. Baldwin's famous remark, which is quoted at the head of this with little possibility of making article, was momentarily forgotten: any. A year ago she could Frantic political manoeuvres went have counted on the support on behind the scenes. Sir Samuel Senate, the tomb-stones are con

Only twenty yards from the dusty road that joins Adigrat and

of France and Italy in any Hoare, owing to an accident, was stantly buing discoloured by the It would take her time to repair Increasingly clear that France will

threat to the peace of Europe, delayed in tus return to England, her losses and to increase her never fight except in face of a To-day, owing to the weakness of start. As a result, it soon became which gave his opponents a clear strength; and during that time she threat of invasion of any of her her armed forces, her policy at clear to the Government that they would be at the most serions dis-Town territories. The armies of Geneva-though inspired by the were in serious danger of defeat. advantage should any aggressive Franco will not march Great Power select the moment to League of Nations unless France is to stop or to end the war, anta for the highest motives-has, while falling make demands. territorial. or directly concerned. France, too,gonised Italy and confused Anglo- economic..

has been seriously embarrassed by French relations. the effect of her policy at Geneva on

Wo Have Most to Lose

The British Empire has more to lose than any other member of the League, and more to defend. Events of the past few months have made it clear to the Government that, in certain eventualities, this country will be expected to tako far 'greater risks than any other League momber. The Government, also know that if the policy which many poople with the highest motiven.

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red powder that is swirled up by soldiers en route to the Makale- passing trucks and marching ESSA Dolo front, but every morning a soldier of the Italian Engineer- [Ing Corps brushes the dust from Perhaps the Government made a off the crosses and stones. mistake in not taking the public

Flowers On Grave more, into their confidence, in which When I arrived there in the euse, no doubt, much of the critic-afternoon, writes a United Press ism would have been withdrawn correspondent, some red arountain But, whatever the reasons that flowers had just been placed on The second is that Germany, tromes, the support of France will keep his lips sealed, it is clear that have

If this polley is pushed to ex-prompted the Prime Minister to Colonel Dunn's grave. They may with whom Great Britain had be jeopardised, and Italy will be it would not have been in the na- English correspondent who had been put there by some hoped to make further pacts come an open and active antagonist. tional interest to risk a defeat at passed by, but it is more probable, and arrangements, has made it Whatever the outcome--and the a time of such crials clear that she will do nothing possibility is that Italy would col

her relations with Italy, whom she Alienating Allies regarde as an indispensable ally.

at the moment-partly, because lapse into chaos or Communism

she wishes to wait and see who the future support of a powerful ally with two million bayoneta

י י,

that this act of memory was per It is equally clear that criti- the cemetery is now hidden from formed by an - Italian soldier: as. cism of any errors in the past is view by great piles of supplies, a

comes best out of the present would be fost beyond recall. The quite unprofitable. The first wooden store-house and a hos~\}

crisis, and partly because she latter event, indeed, is now almost

vigorously advocate to-dny is push-believes that Britain's defences inevitable, even if an embarrassing

ed to its logical extremo, the Em-

"pire will be placed in a position of

acute danger which the public as

...

are so weak, and will take so and expensive war in the Mediter- long to repair, that she noed be ranean is avoided.

immediato

essential is to correct the pital tents widespread public misunder- The Inscription on the marble standing that deflected the slab that is sunken into the mound Government from, their course Memory of A. R. Dunn, V.C., Col. of the middle grave rends: · "In a whelo does not as yet appreciate. |

in no hurry to enter into any Unless, therefore,

of action and has resulted only 33rd Rt. who died at Senate on Many of those who believe. In

pacta with her,

in the most dangerous delay, January 25, 1809. This stone collective security through the

The third is that while Italy be fences in order, she will be placed

steps are taken to put Britain's demo eccond is to give the GovernI was told, was erected by men of League agree with those who do came increasingly truculent, other in the weakest possible position to ment the fullest support in any de- an Aakari column under command not so ballove that our defences are members of the League did not be- refuse the demands which aggres fonce measures they may take of Italian ollicere in 1916. The Inadequate. But the Government como proportionately more helpful, sive Powers are likely to make in The summary which appears in this was put up by the Italians in 1927. stone wall around the cemetery. Kiow the full truth, which is that Just-ns France was becoming more the future.. our defence forces are quite in- and more reluctant to be involved,

column givas an indication of the The same year an iron cross was adequate, even to meet our League other nations were making it clear

deficiencies that have-to-be made obligations. In fact, it is argued that the prospect of effective collec

All this was realised only too good before Britain once again an also placed there, by many competent authorities that tive support was

Colonel Duan, (who "died at clearly by the Government, and take an effective part In securing Sonafe of fllness, was a member membership of the League with Moreover, with the progress of the

they hoped that, if the Hoare the peace of the world. These de- of the Famous 93rd Regiment the far-reaching obligations ontall-Abyssinian war, China, Japan and

Laval Peace Terms resulted in ficiencies will be dealt with in de- which atormed Magdall in April, ad, demands even stronger defences Egypt began to show signs of

the settlement of the Abyssin-tail in succeeding articles in the 1868. The regiment was march- than a policy of Isolation or al trouble,

ian war, a source of future

| Morning, Post,

Ing into the village whom a Uancos,

trouble would be stopped and

hot was heard. It was Taken in conjunction with the the Emperor, Theodore of the they would have time to carry facts stated above, they reveal for Ethiopians, who had just blown out their defence plans, the first time the Inner history of out le brains with silver But when the nature of theme ond of the most-critical episodes in terms became known, there was a recent times.

Electoral Mandate

These considerations prom

Government to ask for a ma

?

an illusion.

Thus the British Government found themselves without the casentials, either for MAIN blooded peace or a full-blooded

mounted pistol Which led, Soon? given him by Queen Victoria.

...

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