EMPIRE CRUSADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 263, 4 October 1940, Page 7

EMPIRE CRUSADE

WINNING THE WAR.

DOMINIONS’ ROLE.

(United Press Association—Copyright.)

(British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 3. The whole Empire’s war effort is growing with ceaseless momentum. By the end of Septemtember between fifty and sixty thousand men of the volunteer militia had concluded camp training in Canada, and during 1941 nearly 300,000 will be trained.

In addition, it is officially estimated that the total of Canadian troops now in England is over 46.000. As' announced in the first week of September, the Canadian Navy then numbered 125 vessels, while the Air Force is expected early in October to have a strength of 26,500 officers and men, of whom 16,000 are in the Empire air training project./ As in other parts of the Empire Canada’s material resources represent a highly important factor. Her current wheat crop is estimated by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics at 561 million bushels, wiiidh is about five million below the record harvest of 1928. Oats, barley, and linseed are estimated to be all above last year. In nine months Canadians have bought about £130,000,000 worth of war bonds.

In Australia the establishment of a new infantry officers’ training school will raise the output of officers to nearly 2000 a year —the number required for the A.I-F. Plans have been made ior a great expansion of the air defences of NorthEastern Australia, involving an expenditure of many millions of pounds on establishments, aircraft, and personnel. The proposed strength of the Air Force will he at least 8500 officers and men. , Seven Australian shipyards are building 50 patrol craft to tile design of the Navy Board, of which 20 are intended for the Admiralty. Each ship will lie manned by Australians and named after Australian towns. The two Tribal Class destroyers under construction in Australia will, with the King’s approval, be named Arunta and Warranunga, the names of two aboriginal tribes. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation has handed to the Australian Government the 100th Wirraway plane one year after production of the first. This means an output of £1,000,000 worth of planes in the first year of production, Members of the 15,000 Australian war savings groups now number 1.250,000 —one-sixth of the population.

NEW ZEALAND’S PART. There are now 1000 New Zealanders in the R.A.F. A total of 8204 men have volunteered tor the R.N.Z.A.F. as pilots and 8189 for the technical staff.

In South Africa the Transvaal golu output in August broke the record at almost 1,200,000 line ounces.

The South African Air Force continues to take part in many successful raids on the Italian bases in Africa, where the Rhodesian Squadron of the R.A.F. has also made successful attacks.

The Southern Rhodesian gold mining industry achieved 'the highest monthly production lor 23 years during August. in India applications for service in the Indian Air Force are being received at a rate between 700 and 2000 a day, according to a recent announcement. An advertisement of 300 vacancies for pilots in the reserve brought 18,000 applications.

Towards the war industries India is producing about 20,000 different items. A factory survey will shortly be made to estimate the production capacity.

Hardly a day passes without further generous Indian gifts towards' aircraft purchase. Kenya's man-power is now 100 per cent, mobilised, every able-bodied man not in the Regular Eorces having part-time training in the Kenya Dofence Force. <

From Canada’s war expenditure of £120,000,000 since September to the £6O gift from a Falkland Islands sheep farm, from the Australian Imperial Force’s 119,420 enlistments to the Seychelles’ field ambulance, the Empire’s story is one of consistent and generous giving in the effort for victory.