AUSTRALIA’S ARMS

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1943, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S ARMS

Peak Production SYDNEY, February 24. Australia’s vast munitions programme has now reached its peak. Arms shortages of 12 months ago have been transformed into surpluses and some factories have transferred to new production instead of continuing to build up a surfeit of weapons, some of which may be made obsolete by the rapid advance of the war. This remarkable change over in the Australian war supply situation has been emphasised by two recent Ministerial announcements. The first was an assurance by the Minister for the Army (Mr. Forde) that Australia’s increasing arms output would soon permit a diversion to the Volunteer Defence Corps (the equivalent of New Zealand’s Home Guard) oi modern weapons. The second was a statement by the Minister for Munitions (Mr. Makin) that in some items the Australian Army was now being supplied with more equipment than is could absorb. Discussing the Commonwealth s arms situation, the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” munitions correspondent. Edward Axford, says, to-day, that the situation by which surpluses have been established in some items is wrapped up in three major considerations: One, the virtual attainment , of peak production in war factories; two, the creation of large reserves of arms and ammunition; and three, the failure of the Japanese, so far, to involve Australian land forces in resisting a full-scale invasion. He cites small arms ammunition as an item of production which is now being reduced because stocks ar e regarded as far beyond immediate requirements. Nearly 18 months ago, Australia’s production of small arms ammunition then urgently needed, was revealed to be more than 1,000,000. rounds a day. "Australia’s armament programme was designed on a vast scale, to equip not only the Commonwealth’s

Forces but also those of Empire countries like, India, Malaya, and New Zealand,” says Mr. Axford. “Up to the fall of Singapore the plan was to supply from Australia all the Forces of the Allied Nations east of Suez. But for the collapse of the U. Nations in the Far E.ast we should be exporting arms and ammunition in large quantities to half a dozen countries in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Instead, we are retaining this output for ourselves, and. in addition to local production, we are now beginning to receive certain types of war equipment from Great Britain, which we had not been in a position to expect since the fall of France” The correspondent also illustrates how Australian munitions production is keeping pace with war developments. For instance, factories which formerly made two-pound anti-tank guns, have switched steadily, but without production loss, to the making of a more powerful six-pounder anti-tank gun. The flexibility of the Australian munitions industry, he says, is such that manpower can be transferred to tasks of the highest priority and then moved back again to their former jobs without any serious disruption in production schedules.