1939-04-27 — Page 6

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1939,

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Conscription

THE QUESTION of some form of

compulsory training for British subjects in Hongkong must neces-

Cabinel's decision to introduce Con- sarily be raised as a result of the

scription in the United Kingdom.

During the crisis weeks of Sep- tember last year, and, indeed, at the present critical times through which WE are passing, many men and 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.

1

Some, certainly, experienced Iceling of shame that they had not previously made a decision by volun- teering and training for military or other essential service, ng was

the acknowledged by

fact that recruiting in the Hongkong Volun- leer 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 sumclent numbers are--but an orderly and well-trained rota of people who can handle a rifle, take their place beside en anti-aircraft gun, flight incendiary or gas bombs, or undertake one or another of the multitudinous duties which emergency will dietate.

A perennial complaint In the 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 thrown the Empire likely to be entirely upon its own resources in Lirnes of emergency, ona of their primary duties,

The complaints regarding lack 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 "national" Registration.

The arguments in favour of the Introduction in this Colony of some form of conscription or compulsory service would, therefore, seem un- answerable.

One vital and pertinent question, however, intrudes. If compulsory training is introduced in Hongkong who is going to pay for it? The matter does not resolve itself into the simple one of telling a citizen that he has been conscripted for military training and handing him a rific. 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- keng 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 service in the Volunteers. Our Go- fence costs already rank-both per capita and in the percentage of our total revenue devoted to mutary and PLEASE Turn To Page 7.

TAKEN FOR A RIDE

GERMAN

PEOPL

If Britain were Attacked-1

Look to your

SECURITY

by.

D. GRAHAME

MILLER

This is the first of six articles planned as a complement to our recent Where Do We Go From Here?" series, In this Arst arilele Mr. Grahamo

Miller, who is a student of military history and strategy. outlines the Immediate

the

strategic problems of British Commonwealth of Nations, and explains how eminent authorities will collaborate. In forthcoming articles.

E

VENTS of the past month have been an education to the world in the new prin- ciples on which relations between nations are now con- ducted.

They have taught us, among other things, a now meaning of defeat in warfaro.

DR. HONDURAS.

Pacific

A

GREAT

BRITAIN EUROPE

Atlantic

ALAKUDA „BANAMAR

GIBRALTAR

JAMADA SWEET D

DR.QUIANA

BASTION

DOUTH

TANGANYIKA

RHODESIA

Indian Ocean

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA

ас fic LHONG KONG

Ocean BR.H.BORNEO

"BR.NEW

QUINEA

# NEW ZEALAND

For more than a century the tribute exacted from a defeated tried; and to counter naval attacks shores; on guard against sabot history. But its support and that nation has been confined to terri- on our shipping and our coasts ngo will be 0.500 men torial lossca and to

in the of the 17 squadrons of aircraft now Anancial Anti-aircraft defence has a clear National Defence Companies, with in the Near East would be invalu- reparations. Ita national life has right to the first claim on our re- tho nesistance of perhaps 20,000 Regu- able to our land forces. Nor could an been left intact.

sources, in view of the emphatic lar troops and men under training. rellanco now placed by spokesmen of To-day, the political, intellectual the Rome Berlin Axis on the abillly frontier, provision is being made for

For, the defence of our Rhineland forces of our ally, Egypt.

eggressor fall to take into account the and economic life of the defeated of their warplanes to pound their an expedlilonary force of more than is the third and last of our danger Singapore, the key to the Far East, nation is subordinated to a puppet enemy into surrender.

250,000 men; comprising 13 Infantry zones. Here, the posalbility of a major leader imposed by the victor. The price of defeat is national servi tudc.

It is now widely recognised that Divisions, three Motorised Infantry war has raised entirely new issues for measures of Indirect defence will be Divisions, three Tank Divisions and a our strategists to master. necessary, measures which will take Cavalry contingent, together with

The problem is predominantly a

and its transport and supply ships will coastal-based alreraft have dented PART from our moral be guarded by the Fleet. Nearly 60 in the North Ben and Mediterranean,

bomber squadrons, short and long repugnance, our security range, may be included in the indirect also is involved, for such defence force, aince their function is to

enortnous resources could concentrate

our national life against armed al attack and to convince an aggres-

The British Commonwealth

kan

O

UR defence forces, then, Jare 30 distributed as to give us hope of meeting defence contingencies. When the task

mains for cach Bervice to work out In comitt

Commander Russell Grenfell, whi will speak for the Navy, was formerly on the teaching staff of the Royal Naval College. In the past two years Cmdr. Grenfell has published two TN these circumstances it books on problems of naval strategy. will be imperativa to re- and a vigorous and much needed study route as much of our of pay and conditions in the Service.

Major-General IL Rowan-Robinson

The gravity of the situation and our forces to the Continent. Wo must artillery, engineer and transport per- naval one; for the great sweep of this the immensity of our task need no for centuries, to allow any single craft in Army Co-operation squadrons, which the moine, the torpedo and retuse, as we have consistently refused sonnel pot in divisional formations. Indian Ocean and the 'Pasifó Ocean elaboration. We must give Britain power to dominate Europe.

This force will be supported by air gives that scope to the battle-flock 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 power would be freed from the scoes Rap the strength of the enemy's forces light of the present challenge. sity of maintaining large armies in by attacking their bases and sources

This last is indispensable, for defence of its frontiers, and with its of supply. without the ability to maintain upon outbuilding is at ses and in the long-standing links with the Mediter, of distribution is complete, still re-

FOR CAU Birico Cromwell's time We must be especially susceptible to have been drawn to the Mediterranean the problems it is set,

We sor that he has little hope of suc- any attempt by a great power to for a variety of reasons to defend our articles in this series "Dally Herald " cess, our voice will be heard only dominate Holland, Belgium and the trade, to extend our diplomatic in readers will learn of these problems with indifference.

Channel ports. For this power would fuence with countries bordering upon and of the progress made towards nola The British Commonwealth les paseas great naval resources in bases the sco, and to protect the way to tion. and materials: it would be in a post- India. scattered on a long line moving lon to put powerful loverage upon our To-day, with the strategical position to netive service study of the higher Each of the contributors has added from Canada through London to command of the Channel, and it would of Italy and the project of a possibly aspects of defence, the Cape, and on to Australia by face the length of our long and vulner hostile Spain, it presents a still more way of India. To defend the whole able East Coast. of this line against simultaneous

complex problem, a solution to which As General Ludendorff recognised we must find. attack would be an undertaking during the Great War, the Indo- beyond our resources. But friend- pendence of the Low Countries is an ship with other nations gives pro defences. It so Increases the distance Important part of our anti-aircraft. tection to various sections of the which hostilin bombers must cover to line, while past events and the our coasts that it halves their fire trade as possible to avoid this sen. shadow of future events clearly power and destructivo effect.

But apart from trade we still have will write on the Army. In his recently mark out three main danger zones. It is small wonder, therefore, that great intercata defend. The Axle published study of Imperial Defence." wo keep in this country a great pro- in command of the Mediterranean he analyses the case for a Ministry of portion of our forces. In direct could overrun North Africa and eslab Defence and many other controversial REAT BRITAIN itself, defence, we Bad 100,000 troops man- lish control over a huge belt of ter factors in our defensive scheme. the Eastern Mediterra- ning guns, sound locators and search- ritory from the Mediterranean to the nean and Singapore are lights to assist more than 40 fighter Indian Ocean

Air Commodore L. E, O. Charitan, key areas where the danger of a breach squadrona et aircraft to defeat air Thus it could at will disorganico the no introduction to "Daily Herald

who writes on the Air Force, needs in the Commonwealth's Invisible fron- attack.

tko of each remaining State in the readers. In recent years be has played tier la vory great

Por naval defence, the saven battle British Commonwealth; or if it chose a great part in awakening us to the Once such a breach has been made, ships, four cruisers and 20 destroyers to look elsewhere, it could close to rise of nir power, and its repercus countries which were initially outside of the Home Fleet will support the pincers upon the mineral and agricul- sions upon our security. the main theatre of warfare must destroyers, minesweepers and escort tural resources Bouth-East Europe. anxiously look to their security. But vessels in more immediato contact With the attention of France con- function of our Citizen Foreca.

LI-Côl, VT, A. Lowe will discuss the we shall says time, money and energy with shipping,

centrated upon her African colonies Military Editor of "Detence," the by concentrating our resources upon While naval strength will be supple and the Western Mediterranean, our journal of the Territorial Army, he is the task of assuring the safety of im. mented by the reconnaissance aircraft forces-apart from the garrisons at well aulted to the task. mediately threatened territories. squadrons, the Plect Air Arm and the Gibraltar and Malta-are disposed in

Great Britain must meet two types ring of coastal batteries around our the Near East, of defensivo problems. Direct defence must be carried out by forces based in this country. The task of these fortes is to defeat air raids upon our bases, our centres of production and popula

·tion: to recount for air-borné "zabati sign partios" if such an experiment ta

G

There, our forces comprise the

· equivalent of thron infantry Divisions, This series is copyright to locally-rated troops. The Modiler. *Tank Division, non-division) and the "Telegraph'! and must not ranean Fleet, with its three battle strategical problems new to naval has to wrestle with series of

be republished, olther wholly five crubers and 25 destroyers or in part, without permission,

M

On FRIDAY1 Commander Murrell Grenfell on the Navy,

Today's Thought. "[7′ ts man's 'perdition to de safe when he ought to die —RICHARD VINKEL

for the truth, to dis