EMERGENCY STEPS TO PREPARE AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 201, 26 August 1939, Page 9

EMERGENCY STEPS TO PREPARE AUSTRALIA.

SPEEDY ACTION. Regulations Promulgated. At Midnight. COMPREHENSIVE POWERS. United Press Association.—Copyright. I (Received 1.30 p.m.) SYDNEY> -this day. Extraordinarily comprehensive powers to safeguard national interests were taken by the Commonwealth Government in a series of national security regulations promulgated at Canberra at midnight. The steps to prepare Australia for an emergency are intensified, and it is stated that the country can now be placed on a war footing in a few hours. The New South Wales State authorities have taken precautions to guard against all possibilities. All leave has been cancelled in the Navy, and the garrison artillery and police. More than 40,000 people enrolled under the national emergency scheme | have been warned to be prepared for service. and about 12,000 have actually been callcd up for service. Militia arc i guarding the Bunnerong power station, railway bridges and the industries and wharves at Port Kembla. Liner Commandeered. The sailing of some large liners for overseas has been cancelled, and the Moreton Bay, which left for London yesterday, was recalled to Melbourne by radia, having been commandeered by the Admiralty. The 60 passengers disembarked and the ship will return to Sydney to await instructions. Safety men have been posted at all large reservoirs and bridges, including the Harbour Bridge. The whole of the arsenical supplies have been commandeered. The Prime Minister. Mr. Menzies, said these measures had been taken on the principle that it was better to be sure than sorry. He urged people to remain calm, and assured them that the defence machinery was working perfectly. Mr. Menzies added that powerful influences abroad were working for peace, and the best contribution the Australian public could make was to go about their affairs in normal fashion. The information he had from overseas did not warrant a proclamation declaring the existence of "danger of war." Broadcasting to-night, Mr. Menzies said the absorption of .Poland would iead to attacks on smaller European countries on one ground or another until a vast domination of force had been established. Australia, he said, was involved in the pledges of Britain and France because, in plain English, the defeat of Britain would be the destruction or defeat of the British Empire. "I say with full knowledge of all official communications that the conduct of these matters by the British Government has been characterised by wonderful patience, great self-control and a genuine desire for peace," said Mr. Menzies. "Australia must co-operate in the most effective way. Other British countries are honouring the great British guarantee."