GREAT EXPANSION.
* ___ AUSTRALIAN NAVAL FORCES. ARMED MERCHANT CRUISERS. **• ” . V 4 : (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) • ; CANBERRA, Tin's Day. Substantial expansion in the Australian naval forces since the war began was revealed by the Minister of Defence (Mr *A. G. Street), when he announced the establishment of a nucleus of a formidable mine-sweeping and anti-submarine service and the formation of a flotilla of examination steamers and light patrol craft. This result had been achieved by chartering and arming smaller types of merchant ships.
There had been added to the naval forces 13 minesweepers and anti-sub-marine vessels, two high-speed minesweepers and a store carrier. In addition, five larger ships had boon, armed and commissioned as armed merchant cruisers—three for the British Admiralty and two as an addition to the Australian squadron. More than 80 other merchant ships still engaged in normal trade had been defensively armed in Australia.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 32, 17 November 1939, Page 5
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146GREAT EXPANSION. Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 32, 17 November 1939, Page 5
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