250,000 MORE MEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25085, 26 December 1944, Page 5

250,000 MORE MEN

BRITISH ARMED TORCES NEW MEASURES ANNOUNCED LONDON, Dec. 24 A quarter of a million more fighting men will b£ made available for the British armed forces by a new bovernnient call-up plan; An _ announcement from No. 10, Downing Street, states; '.'ln .order to sustain and nourish our armies in the line the British Government lias decided to make available in tluh coming months additional- fighting men. A large part will bo found By" a new call-up from civil'life, the Royal. Navy and the RAF- • 1 "More will be found-from-the Army itself bv a further, combing-out and .retraining of units and individuals who hitherto have been engaged in static forms' of defence or administrative service. The total to be provided will amount to a ouarter of a million men. It is pointed put that transfers from non-combatant to combatant duty within the Army have been going on for some time. • • ' ' . " ' , The Ministry ot Labour, in a statement following the Downing Street, announcement, says that it does not imply a more drastic comb-out ot civilians than hitherto. Men will still be obtained from those who become. 1» years of age and those who became redundant m the munitions industries. The calling up of another quarter million men could not be a decision taken because of von Rundstedt s offensive, says the Daily Express military correspondent. It has been in mind for a considerable time. The British Arnvy needs every man who can be found in the next year. Current events, however, indirectly influenced the Government's announcement. According to the Daily Express political writer, the German drive has emphasised the fact that the war may be prolonged for some months, which is another factor that, led the _ Ministers to make their decision. It is known that a manpower shortage is already felt at the-front.

NUFFIELD IN AUSTRALIA REST FROM WAR WORK SYDNEY, Dec. 24 Lord Nuffield, well-known manufacturer and philanthropist, showing the strain of six years of war work, has arrived in Australia from England. Ihe main purpose of his tour is to rest, but he will meet representatives of _ many firms which were with his vast manufacturing enterprise before the war. .„ , ~ Lord Nuffield said ho could say little about post-war motor-car production. "The truth is we don't know anything about it," he stated. "We have been too busy turning out tanks, guns, torpedoes and other war weapons to thmk about it."

NEW GOLDFIELDS SOUTH AFRICAN DISCOVERY LONDON, Dec. 2-1 Now goldfields described as "possibly the greatest ever seen" have been discovered in the Orange Free State, South Africa, says a Johannesburg correspondent. The area covers at least 1,500,000 acres. The chairman of New Union Goldfields. Ltd., says rich reefs have been met and a second Johannesburg may fie created LONDON TUBE STRIKE (Reed. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 25 A one-day strike hampered essential workers using the London underground railway this morning, but a slight improvement has been, effected in the situation, some of the routes now being operated. The hold-up was caused by a claim from the workers for two" days' holiday instead of one. -Union officials are .making efforts, to. prevent 'the trouble spreading.