2,000,000 MEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23544, 3 January 1940, Page 7

2,000,000 MEN

LIABILITY FOR SERVICE NEW BRITISH CLASSES PROCLAMATION ISSUED YEAR'S REQUIREMENTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 2, 5.5. p!m.) LONDON, Jan. 1 The King, who returned from Sandringham on Monday night, approved of a proclamation making liable for military, service nearly 2,000,000 men in six classes between the ages of 19 and 27, inclusive.Those aged 19 will not be called up until they reach 20. The speed of registration and calling up will depend on the requirements of the forces, and the first batch is nofc likely to be called up before March,; The proclamation, as far as can be foreseen, covers the manpower requirements for the three services until the end of the year. The total -already registered and also now liable is between 2,300,000 and 2,750,000 inern. The total already in the services and those now liable is probably over. 3,500,000, excluding the forces of tha Dominions. Although the group called up .in October last is not yet completely, absorbed in the services, it is expected that both this and that of December 1 will be enlisted before the end of February, and that the whole of the new classes will be with the colours bjj the end of ■ the present* year. CHOICE OP UNITS DOMINION TROOPS I J (Received January 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON,. Jan. l The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, Sir Thomas Phillips, said to-day that arrangements were being made to enable Australians and Canadians drafted to British units to transfer if they wish to the Australian and Canadian contingents. Unemployed men who had no prospect of work would be called up out of turn if so desired.

WIN FOR ALLIES JAPANESE PREDICTION TURNING POINT EASTER EARLY END OF CHINA WAR British Wireless LONDON, Jan. l The European war will have reached a turning point in favour of the Allies by Laster and the Sino-Japanese war will end in a month in a magnanimous peace, predicted Viscount Hisaakira Kano, a leading Japanese banker and financier, who is going to Japan from London for a brief'visit. Viscount Kano compared British and German resources, and said the German thermometer was going down while the Allies' thermometer was going up.

SMALLER NATIONS DEPRESSING OUTLOOK PREMIER OF DENMARK COPENHAGEN, Jr.n. 1 The Prime Minister of Denmark, M. Stauning, in an interview, said: "I am as depressed about the future as ever I have been, and have long ceased to believe in anything. Denmark is entering the year 1940 with subdued hope. "The character of our terrain prevented the construction of a defence line such as other countries built, ami Denmark was forced to remain passive and impartial regarding the conduct of the war. "It is not for me to say what Russia's object is in attacking Finland, but nations could not be indifferent to Finland's fate," he added. "Small neutrals will go under if tlie war continues to affect them as it has so far. They niust hold together or go out together."

THREAT TO SWEDEN MINISTER'S ASSURANCE "NO ROOM FOR FEAR" (Received January 2, 5.5 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, Jan. 1 The Swedish Foreign Minister, M. Gunther, in a New Year message said: "There is a threat of annihilation to our possessions and our independence, but nobody will " interfere with' our right to self-determination. There is no room for fear."

DUTCH OPEN FIRE AIRCRAFT OVER FRIESLANp; (Received January 2, 5.5 p.m.) THE HAGUE. Jan. 1 Anti-aircraft guns fired on unidentified aeroplanes over Friesland. and tho northern islands. They made off to the north-west.

SECRET WIRELESS MYSTERY IN FRANCE (Received January 2, 5.5 p.m.) \ PARTS, Jan. 1 A radio station which calls itself sometimes "tho voice of peace" and at other times "the awakening of France" has been broadcasting German and Russian propaganda to France. It is believed that the station has been instigated bj' tho Nazi authorities as a counter to the German "freedom station." Le Matin demands that tho station be silenced if it is on French soil or that of a near by neutral country. . ——i——• o • FUND FOR SAILORS LORD NUFFI ELD'S GIFT LONDON, Jan. 2 King George's Fund for Sailors has benefited to tho extent of £50,000. Following a broadcast appeal by Earl Baldwin, £25,000 was received, a sum necessary to qualify for another £25,000 promised by .Viscount. Nuffield*