GREAT NAVAL DEPOT FAMINE CONDITIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 March 1946, Page 5

GREAT NAVAL DEPOT

FAMINE CONDITIONS

BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET TRANSFER FROM SYDNEY (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) (R£c. noon) SYDNEY, March 4. The huge Royal naval installations in Australia which were responsible for the logistic support of the British Pacific Fleet are in the process of transfer. By the end of May only a small Royal Navy liaison staff will remain. The Royal naval administrative headquarters and organisation in Australia maintained at sea a force of just under 250,000 men. The British Pacific Fleet consisted of four battleships, 25 aircraft-carriers of all types, 17 cruisers, 40 destroyers, 36 submarines and many fleet auxiliaries, including several heavy repair and depot ships, shore establishments and nine naval air stations. A large proportion of the Pacific Fleet has passed through Sydney harbour during recent weeks. Many ships are still here and are following the precedent of those which have already left these shores by loading every inch of storage room with food for Britain.

FOOD CRISIS GROWING IN SERIOUSNESS

(Rec. Noon) LONDON, March 3.

The departure for Washington of the Minister of Food (Sir Ben Smith) has been delayed by bad weather until to-morrow. The Press Association says that Indian famine developments in the past 24 hours have made his mission even more important. It is now probable that the gap between the world wheat supply and demand will be 50 per cent, greater than the 5,000,000 tons previously estimated.