WITH CONSCRIPTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 212, 8 September 1938, Page 11

WITH CONSCRIPTS.

S. AFRICA'S DEFENCE.

Scheme Involving- £6,000,000

Decided On.

138,000 TRAINED TROOPS.

United Press Association. —Copyright.

(Received 1.30 p.m.)

CAPETOWN. September 7.

Mr. O. Pirow, Minister of Defence, announced that the Government will spend £5,000,000 additional on arms and defence works, and £1,000,000 on coastal defences over three years. The most necessary equipment will be purchased through Britain.

The Minister said the Union would train land forces likely to be superior to any enemy they might have to meet. Equipment of the Air Force would bear comparison with any inside or outside the British Commonwealth.

At least two harbours would be fortified more strongly than any other Dominion. The Government aimed at mobilising 1000 pilots and 137,000 troops. Conscription would produce a further 150,000.

Mr. Pirow said the Government would never sanction the training of natives in the use of arms, but* they would be used in all except actual military duties.

Selected labour battalions ■ from the Rand mines, operating under skilled miners, with ' unlimited quantity of dynamite could be of great military value.