THE LATEST AUSTRALIA AND WAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 1, 12 October 1943, Page 4

THE LATEST

AUSTRALIA AND WAR.

CASUALTIES AND EFFORT. ARRESTING FIGURES ISSUED. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 2 p.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. The casualties suffered by the Australian armed services from the beginning of the war to August 31 last number 61,564. Of these, 13,908 were ' killed in action or died of wounds, 14,708 were wounded, 20,823 taken prisoner, and 12,131 posted missing. The total casualties of the Royal Australian Navy, not previously released, is 2368. These are included in the official figures of the Commonwealth’s war effort just announced. Since the outbreak of the war in the Pacific the Allied air forces in the South-west Pacific area have destroyed 1539 Japanese aircraft, probably destroyed 493 and damaged 581. Australian servicemen in this war have won 4048 awards and decorations. These included 11 Victoria Crosses. Of a total of 2,529,000 males now occupied 842,000 or nearly oiiethird, have been enlisted in the fighting forces; 1,531,000 or 60 per cent., are engaged in direct, or indirect war work. Only 117,000, or under five per cent, continue to produce factory-made-goods for civilian needs. From Australia’s total of 2,823,000 males of 14 years and over 2,529,000 or 86 per cent., are either fighting, doing direct war jobs or are in civilian employment. By the end of September the war liad cost Australia £1,247,000,000 or about £6OO a minute. During September Australia’s expenditure on the war was £1,754,000 a day of £l2lß a minute. Expenditure on the Royal Australian Air Force since the war began has been more than £224,000,000.