INDIA’S PART.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 25, 9 November 1940, Page 3

INDIA’S PART.

ASSISTANCE FOR BRITAIN. MEN AND MATERIALS'. 1 LONDON, November 6. Rapid developments in India’s war effort and measures taken for further expansion of the fighting services' were discussed in a speech by the finance member of the Viceroy’s Council (Sir Abraham Raisman) at the opening of the session of the Indian Legislative Assembly at Delhi. Sir Abraham Raisman indicated that more than 60,000 Indian troops were already overseas assisting in the defence cf India’s outer bastions and that more than 1,000,000 men, had joined th|e colours, a large proportion of them being already fully trained. The Government w&s engaged in, providing as a first step an army bordering on 500,000 men, and all the arms and schools for advanced training in all branches of military knowledge. Facilities for training and equipping the men were constantly multiplying. Dealing with the development of India’s capacity to meet the material requirements of the new forces, Sir Abraham Raisman said that bund,rods of tens of armoured plate would shortly lie manufactured each month in In din for the first tiniie, and 3000 armoured vehicles were expected to lie produced next veer. India, was now able to produce mow? than she required of many classes of munitions and war materials, chiefly ns a result of ojt'ders received from Britain, v, hi eh continued to expand. After dealing with the Royal Indian Navy, bo said that the scheme for training 300 pilots and 1 2000 mechanics for the Air Force reserve was being advanced, and the school for officers recently opened provided training for 50 officers at a. time.

The enlargement of aerodromes to accommodate most types of modern aircraft was proceeding, and buildings for the use of squadrons equipped with such aeroplanes had boon, constructed.

It was intended to proceed with a scheme for establishing aeroplane factories in India as soon as the necessary plant and material were* available.