ISLAND DEFENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23042, 20 May 1938, Page 8

ISLAND DEFENCES

AUSTRALIAN PLANS PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA EXPOSED POSrriON EXPANSION PROGRAMME [from otje own correspondent] ' CANBERRA. May 12 Australia's defences may be extended to protect her territories. This is the nest important step which the Federal Cabinet may consider, in applying its expanded programme. If Ministers adopt the proposal, it will be the first time Australia has undertaken defences outside her own boundaries. So far, no detailed investigation has been undertaken; but a strong section of the Cabinet is said to view with increasing concern the exposed position of . the territory of Papua and New Guinea. The possibility of extending the defence system to protect these territories, .it is stated, has been unofficially discussed by more than one member of the Cabinet with the Government's military advisers. Base at Papua Proposed The tentative proposal likely to be considered is that a defence organisation should be established in Papua. The unofficial discussions indicate that, at the start, the air arm Bhould be the principal defence unit, and that one or more air bases should be established. This proposal will probably be discussed with the Inspector-General of the Royal Air Force, Air Marshal Sir .Edward Ellington, when he reaches Australia. As an auxiliary to the air defence, consideration might be given to the establishment of a nucleus of a land force, which could probably be developed in conjunction with the existing civil administrative and control personnel. An auxiliary service would be the provision of small reserve stores of aeroplane fuel, munitions and medical and other supplies. Arguments lor Special Measures Papua is the. principal external territory in which the establishment of a defence force would be possible. The terms of the mandates under which other principal Pacific territories are held forbid the establishment of forti- . fications or military works within these territories, of which the most important is New Guinea. The arguments for special defence of Papua are:—Papua, at present; unprotected, is a valuable prize; although New Guinea cannot be fortified, an effective air defence unit in Papua could easily operate to protect both the mainland of New Guinea and the island of New Britain, should the New Guinea territory be attacked. Papua, if adequately defended, would sot become a hostile base, and would, moreover, act as a buffer between Australia and the territory of New Guinea, and the practically undefended territory in Dutch New Guinea, in which hostile forces could easily establish themselves. Heavy Federal Expenditure Australia's expenditure on defence in the current year considerably exceeds that of any of the other Bo minions.

The Minister for Defence, Mr. H. V. Thorby, announced to-day that, while Australia would spend £11,531,372 in 1937-38, the expenditure of the other Dominions, on the basis of Australian currency, would be: —Canada, £8,700,000; South Africa, £2,154,000; New Zealand, £1,604,000.