AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26473, 29 May 1947, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE

NEW PROJECTS ENVISAGED INCREASED EXPENDITURE Rec. 8.30 p.m. CANBERRA, May 28. Service Ministers will ask the Defence Council on Friday for about £53,000.000 for defence projects in the financial year 1947-48. The projects include the addition of two aircraft carriers to the Royal Australian Navy, an increase of the navy strength from 11,674 to 14,000, and the army from 34.595 to 69,000. a reduction of the RAAF from 12,279 to 11.900, and expenditure of £5,000,000 on a rocket range. It is understood that the navy seeks £15,000,000, the RAAF £13,000,000, and the army, munitions and research £12,500,000 each. Mr Chifley wants the total pruned to £50,000,000. The navy programme envisages the replacement of ships now regarded as obsolescent, and destroyers and smaller craft to be built in Australia. Carriers might be bought from Britain, but it is more likely that the navy will urge the Australian Government to accept the British offer to allow Australia to pay for the completion of two carriers, the keels of which have already been laid. These carriers would be about 14,000 tons gross, and similar to HMS Glory and others, though more modern. The Glory Class carries 39 to 44 aircraft, and has a speed of 25 knots. The army plan envisages a permanent military force of 19,000, supported by a Militia of 50,000. The chief problem facing the army heads is recruiting. The intake at the Royal Military College will be increased to provide more trained staff officers.

In addition to the permanent RAAF, the Air Minister will ask for the establishment of a skeleton Citizens’ Air Force. When demobilisation began in October, 1945, the strength of the RAAF was about 129,000 men and women. In the new RAAF, about 3500 men will be on operational flying.