CANADA’S EFFORT

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1939, Page 8

CANADA’S EFFORT

40,000 MEN

For Expeditionary Force

BUILDING OF NAVAL AND AIRCRAFT.

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.J (Received Sept. 20, 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA, September 19

The Minister of Defence, Mr lan MacKenzie, announced that the Canadian Government is organising two divisions of Canadian troops, who are to be available as an expeditionary force, if required. He said that men already enlisted in the Canadian active service force would be permitted to volunteer “for service in Canada or elsewhere.” The minister aid not reveal the number required, but the facilitation of United Kingdom purchases of essential supplies, for which it probably would be necessary to make Canadian dollars available. This, in the first instance, would probably involve the repatriation of the Canadian securities held in London and the granting of credits at a latej stage. The Minister stated that the immediate naval programme was the building of small submarine chasers. Mr MacKenzie indicated the normal strength of a British division is twenty thousand men. The Minister also announced that Canada was doubling her naval personnel, intensifying air training, and constructing a large number of antisubmarine craft. He said Britain wanted naval craft, naval personnel, naval facilities, a trained air personnel, and technical officers for her medical and engineering services. The Minister said that the British Government’s first requirement was that further discussions with the British Government would precede any building of larger craft. Mr Norman . Rogers, the Minister of Labour, to-night replaced Mr lan MacKenzie as Minister of Defence. Mr MacKenzie becomes Minister of Pensions and Health. Mr Norman McCarthy becomes Minister of Labour.

FIRST CANADIAN DIVISION READY TN FOUR MONTHS. (Received Sept. 20, 11.40 p.m.) OTTAWA. September 19. Regarding the expeditionary force, it is believed the first division could go to Europe early in the New Technicians would be available earlier.

' AMERICAN STOCKS BOOM. NEW YORK, September 19. Herr Hitler’s speech sent stocks soaring over seven points, and clogged the tickers. Steel shares led. Prior to the speech stocks were moving from one or two points higher, but were a point or more below the earlier peaks. The gains totalled eight points, buyers Interpreting that Herr Hitler had failed to offer a peaceful solution. The turnover was 1,830,000 shares. NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER INVERCARGILL. September 20. Very Rev. W. H. Howes, actingModerator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand last evening made a call to all ministers and congregations of the church to observe, in common with other Christian communities in the Dominion, a day of national prayer on Sunday, October 1. Mr Howes said he wishes the Presbyterian Church to accede to the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Lang, and the Piimate of New Zealand, Archbishop Averill, for united prayer. The order of service for the day is being prepared by Rev. H. H. Barton, Oamaru, convenor of the Presbyterian Church Worship Committee. ASHBURTON, September 20.

The President of the Methodist Church. Rev. Angus Mcßean. telegraphed to Archbishop Averill his cordial endorsement of the Archbishop’s proposal that all churches should observe October 1 as a national day of prayer fox- peace. He is inviting the Methodist Church to fall into line with the proposal.

GERMAN CONSUL LEAVES WELLINGTON, September 20. The German Consul for New Zealand, Herr E. Ramm, accompanied by Frau Ramm, their two children, and members of the Consulate ‘staff, lefl Wellington this morning by the Netherlands steamer Tasman, on their return to Germany. The Swiss Consul, Dr. W. Schmid, who will represent Germany in New Zealand, and Mr J. W. Heenan, Un-der-Secretary for Internal Affairs, were among those in the farewell party. MANY NAZIS EXECUTED. LONDON, September 19. It is stated by the German “Freedom” radio station that 1,000 members of the Nazi Party have been executed in Germany since the war began. J THE PALESTINE SORE. (Received September 20, 8.0 p.m.) JERUSALEM, September 20. A British soldier was killed and three wounded in an engagement with an armed gang in the hills.