IN AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1940, Page 6

IN AUSTRALIA

THE WAR POLICY. (Australian Press Association). 6 CANBERRA, May 22.. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. R. Menzies, announced an acceleration of Australia’s war programme in tlie House of Representatives to-day. The programme, lie said, was as follow s: (1) The building of a large naval dock in Sydney. (2) The raising of a. Third Division of infantry lor service. abroad. » _ (3) The appointment of Mr T..H. Essington Lewis,. the ~ General Manager of the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. as the Director-General of Muni- > tious Supply. . (4) The formation of a special recruiting organisation. (5) The formation of a .Trades Union Panel for the settlement of industrial disputes. . (6) Tlie speeding up of the Empire air scheme. (7) An increase of 1970 men in the Australian naval personnel., Mr Menzies said that the new naval dock at Sydney would make Australia a fit base for a powerful fleet, and would, in certain contingencies, enable naval operations to be conducted in Australian waters, without any necessity of travelling to Singapore . for a refit or for repairs. The dock w’ould ‘ cost three millions. If would have a total length of 1050 feet by 137 feet wide, and its depth over the keel blocks, at high tide, would be 45 feet. CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS. CANBERRA, May 22. The Minister for the Army, Hon. Mr Street, to-night gave a national broadcast in which lie made a fervent appeal for Australian manhood to join the colours. He emphasised the gravity of the situation in Europe. He also emphasised that war is not won by machines, but by men. Mr Street exclaimed: “For whatgood are machines-without*men?”