IN INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1940, Page 5

IN INDIA

SUPPORT OF WAR

SUPPLIES AND AIR FORCE.

(Per British Official Wireless.)

.KDGBY, July 13. Information; is now available of furr ther efforts being made. in India to t assist to a Successful prosecution of : 3 the war. For the purposes of tho War Supply Board there, a census of 3 machine tools and certain other equip- - ment is being undertaken. Reserves F of timber, pig. iron and other mater--7 ials are being .built up£^.A reorganis- > ation Department of Supply has taken > over five out of eight ordnance factories. Two main branches have been i -created for the production of supi plies and munitions, the 1 latter branch. y undertaking the production and 1 cony trol of all metal for general engineering and shipbuilding. The appointment of six provincial controllers of 1 supplies has been sanctioned, and ■ those for Calcutta, Bombay, Cawn--1 pore, Madras, and Lahore have been appointed, together with provincial advisory commitees for war supplies. The chief " orders that recently have beWn received include one • for eij-* gineering stores and hutting for the Middle East, textiles for Britain, Aus- ' tralia, Negro' sembilian and South Africa, metiical stores for Somaliland, sandbags for Egypt, and foodstuffs for Aden. The Air Force headquarters are re- ' ceving far more applications ( for service in the Indian Air Force than the tare able to deal with. Candidates are already under training in, connection with a scheme recently announced for a reserve of three hundred piots. Two thousand mechanic* have been - initially trained by civil organisations. Recruitment is also proceeding -for increased ground stall requirements of the R.A.F. in India. Preparations are in hand for widespread recruitment of British and Indian officers for expansion of? the Indian Army, in all arms. A new train- - iffg establishment is to be set up, ac- - commodat ing five hundred Indian cadets; on a sixmoiiths.training' coqirse for-dmergeaicy * commissions.' .<\ •* J 1 , INDIA-BURMA FORCES. ~ } ; ' RUG?Y, July; 1?; . * One result of : the separation 'of Burma from India was that numbers iof the armed forces, in Burma ceas,ed to be eligible for Indian decorations;' New y (awards—the Order.,. of Buraia and the Burma Gallantry .Medal...have.been instituted, and have ap^so#®!.** The Order of Burma is for award to governors, and commissioned offi- . ■ cers of Burma army frontier force, and Burma military police, for long, faithful and honourable service. The Gallantry Medal for members of the arm- • ed forces of Burma for acts of gallantry is open to all ranks.