SHIPS FROM INDIA’S YARDS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 173, 18 April 1942, Page 7

SHIPS FROM INDIA’S YARDS

Hundreds Being Built

(British Official Wireless.) (Received April 17,.7 p.m.) RUGBY, April 16.

India’s industrial war effort is growing daily. All shipbuilding yards, according to official figures, are now working at full capacity on naval vessels of various types, and more than 300 are under construction, including trawlers, corvettes, mine-sweepers, motorlauuehes, lifeboats, cutters, other seagoing and coastal craft, and floating docks. . Well over 30,000 men are engaged in shipbuilding and repairing yards. The work also includes extensive repairs to merchant ships and the fitting of degaussing equipment, gun mountings and bridge protection. Approximately 400 sea-going ships have been repaired in the Indian yards since the outbreak of the war. The engineering works are manufacturing components for the main propelling and auxiliary machinery, and it is hoped that complete marine engines of indigenous manufacture will soon be produced. The importance of India’s shipbuilding industry has ibeen enhanced by the recent developments, which throw into relief India’s position as a Vital centre of supply and communications to the fronts in the East. An American technical mission to India is expected to arrive in New Delhi over the weekend. It will have its first meeting with the Government representatives on Monday. The mission is to investigate the possibilities of developing India’s industrial resources.