EMPIRE'S AID

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 7

EMPIRE'S AID

LOYALTY TO BRITAIN NAVAL CONTRIBUTIONS SHIPS AND PERSONNEL SPATE OF SUPPLIES By Telegraph--r-Press Association—Copyright (Received January 3, 0.50 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Jan. 1 The spontaneous and overwhelming offers of support from the Dominions and colonies since the outbreak of war have caused some concern to the enemy, whose propaganda has repeatedly belittled the potential and actual support from the Empire and even foretold the Empire's early disintegration. Men, money, munitions and supplies of all kinds are reaching Britain in an ever-swelling spate, but the first and among the greatest of the Empire's war contributions was the reinforcement of the British Fleet' by the navies of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India, immediately war broke out. The greatest ol these reinforcements came from Australia, with six cruisers, one flotilla-leader, four destroyers and two escort vessels. Australia BuiJds JVarships In addition, Australia is now building three destroyers of the Tribal class and four escort vessels arc nearing completion. A number of ships have been requisitioned for minesweeping . and patrol work. Seven minesweeping and anti-submarine vessels are being laid down and a flotilla of fast motor torpedo-boats has been ordered. Australia trains her own officers and ratings, and now, with the exception of a few senior officers and warrant officers, the personnel of her Navy are entirely Australian. The personnel provided for in the 1939-40 estimates was 555 officers and 5752 ratings.- Reserve forces totalling some 500 officers and 5000 men were called up on the outbreak of war to complete the seagoing fleet to war complement and man auxiliary craft for local defence. Canada's Fleet The Royal Canadian Navy, established in 1910, had at the outbreak of war a personnel of some 500 officers and 1800 men, who were immediately . reinforced by the calling-up of a further 1800 reservists. Many others joined up and are now under training. When the war began Canada's fleet consisted of six modern destroyers and five minesweeping trawlers. In 1939 the 36-knot flotilla-leader Kempenfelt was taken over from the Royal Navy and renamed. By November, 40 vessels had been requisitioned for minesweeping and patrol work, and a number of naval minesweepers and fast patrol vessels are already on the stocks. New Zealand's Contribution Although New Zealand has no seagoing fleet of her own, since 1925 she has been lent two cruisers of the Royal Navy, which she maintains at her own expense—the Achilles, made famous in the engagement with the Admiral Graf Spee, and the Leander. At the beginning of the war there were some 700 New Zealand naval ratings, who were immediately reinforced by the calling-up of 700 reservists. With this force, the Dominion has already provided armed merchant cruisers and a number of mine-sweeping trawlers. New Zealand (also contributed £1,000,000 toward the construction of the Singapore Naval Base. Expansion in India The Government of India in 1938 undertook to maintain at least six modern escort vessels for co-operation with the Royal Navy in the defence of India. The Royal Indian Navy at present consists of five escort' vessels, one patrol vessel, one survey ship, one training and depot ship and various auxiliary craft based on the naval dockyard at Bombay. Four more modern escort vessels are about to be built. Apart from reserves,, the seagoing strength of the Royal Indian Navy is approximately 170 officers and 1500 men. . " South African Patrols South Africa has no navy of her own, but has undertaken the defence of the (Jnion's harbours and her 1800 miles - of coast line. Shortly after the war began a special Seaward Defence Force was organised, and it includes a large number of trawlers and other vessels well equipped for mine-sweeping and patrol work, and an air arm, whose reconnaissance squadrons patrol far out-to.sea, protecting the trade routes. The South African Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, which in peace time numbers 65 officers and approximately 1000 men. is rapidly expanding. A survey of military preparations in South Africa, made officially in the Union, states that the Union's new citizen army is making remarkable progress. Differences Set Aside New units are also being formed in such typically rural areas as Messian, Barberton and Vereniging. A spirit of cordial co-operation dominates all activities, the survey continues, and any sectional differences have been set aside. Everywhere the fact is appreciated that all are South Africans, and complete unity is expressed in the common cause. The survey points out that the lie is given to Nazi propagandist insinuations that discrimination against Afrikaansspeaking members of the defence force obtains, by the fact, that by far the larger number of senior officers permanently serving in South Africa's army are men bearing Afrikaans names, and they, like officers bearing English names, are bilingual. Natives' Loyalty The anxiety of the native peoples to take part in the defence of South Africa was expressed at a recent meeting in Pretoria of the Natives' Representative Council, the most important organ of native opinion in the Union. During the meeting one delegate summed up the position as follows: "Since war broke out every African organisation that has held a meeting has expressed its unswerving devotion to the King and his Government in the Union. "An account recently appeared in the press of how native employees of a big concern in the Transvaal have started a fund to buy a warship for Britain, and this, I am convinced, is > , typical of what, the people throughout" the Union are feeling."