OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF DEFENCE DRIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 20, 25 January 1939, Page 11

OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF DEFENCE DRIVE.

SUCCESS W SIGHT. Being Carried Out With Expedition. DEVELOPMENT OF DARWIN. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received II a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. The Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, stated that the success of the drive to increase the strength of the militia to ,70,000, and of the £■ 63,000,000 defence programme generally, was in sight. Mr. Lyons, who presides over a meeting .of the Australian Defence Council to-day, added that Australians should know that the defence programme was being carried out with the greatest expedition, and that when completed it would assure them of reasonable security against aggression. Two long-range radio stations, which will cost about £40.000, will be erected near Darwhi this year by the Commonwealth Government for use by the Royal Australian Navy. The stations, which will be among the most powerful in the world, will be erected as one of the principal links in the chain of defence of British waters south of the tropic of Cancer, and are intended to form an important part of Australia's development of Darwin as a southern adjunct of Singapore.

GENERAL'S WARNING. Canada's Coasts Likely to Be Attacked. APPEAL TO EMPLOYEES. (Received 1 p.m.) WINNIPEG, January 24. Major-General E. C. Ashton, retiring Chief of the Canadian Army, declares that in the event of war there is no doubt Canada's coasts will be subject to attack, most likely by 'planes from ships. He appeals to employers to do more to encourage enlistment and military training.