ARMY CORPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23599, 7 March 1940, Page 9

ARMY CORPS

SERVICE ABROAD AUSTRALIAN PLAN BAISING 48,000 MEN 90,000 BY .TUNE, 1941 By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received March 7, 12.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE, March (5 The decision of the Australian Government to recruit for service abroad an army corps of 48,000 men was announced to-night by the Prime Minister, Mr. 11. G. Menzies. The corps will comprise the first division, part of which is now abroad, and a second division of ]6,000, plus corps troops numbering 16,000, with adequate reinforcements.

It is estimated that a total of 90,000 troops will be raised by June next year.

It has also been decided to send an army co-operation squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force for field service, and a railway survey company, three railway construction companies and two forestry companies, comprising 40 officers and 120.'i ranks.

The Government has not heen guided by 1 lie lliuiihiuiviiiit .suggestions of nmaieiir onlookers, hut hv expert military advisers, said Mr. Men/.ios. It has also been decided to strengthen the militia by calling up one or two more age quotas for 10 weeks' continuous camp training, giving a permanent camp force of 75,000 men.

BRITISH WOOL STOCKS ADEQUATE RESERVE HELD NO NEEDLESS ACCUMULATION (Received March (!, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, March 5 The wool controller, Sir Henry Shackleton, said in an interview that some critics alleged that control had accumulated large stocks. This was quite untrue.

"As prudent men, we are maintaining an adequate reserve," he said. "Wool is arriving in satisfactory volume, but the stocks we are building up will only be reasonably adequate for the draw which will have to be made upon them.

"There is no withholding of supplies which can be released with due regard for the maintenance of a proper margin of safety."

OFFICIAL WAR ARTIST MR. R. G. EVES APPOINTED (Received March 6, 8.55 p.m.) LONDON, March 0 The appointment is announced of Mr. P. G. Eves; as official war artist with the British Expeditionary Force. Mr. Eves, a prominent portrait painter, was elected to the Royal Academy last year. He has works in the Tate Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.

NEWFOUNDLAND RECRUITS (Received March 6, 5.35 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, March 5 Speaking in the House of Commons the Dominions Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, said the Government of Newfoundland had recently called for volunteers for upward of 1300 men for service with the Royal Artillery. ' This call had met with the most enthusiastic response. The recruits would he trained in the United Kingdom and, as far as possible, would be posted to the same units.