AFRICAN DEFENCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19896, 25 March 1939, Page 5

AFRICAN DEFENCE

ARMS AND EQUIPMENT • BIG IMPROVEMENT MADE OVER 2000 AIR. PILOTS HEAVY GUNS FOR FORTS (Elfic. Tel. Copyright — United Press Assn.) (Reed. March 25, 9 a.m.) CAPETOWN, March 23. The South African Minister of Defence, Mr. O. Pirow, in his annual defence statement in the Assembly, sa<d the British Government had generously enabled the most urgent requirements to be met. The position in regard to arms and equipment had been greatly improved. South Africa would soon be able to satisfy its ammunition requirements. She had 2080 air pilots, two bomber-fighting squadrons, five train-

ing squadrons, one railways reconnaissance squadron and. one. railway troop-carrier squadron. Each squaddon, with reserves, consisted of 25 planes; ' ■• . ■• ■■■< . '.'. There were ' 12' batteries of artillery. Man-power was available at short 'notice and could 'be doubled. Capetown, Port Elizabeth, Walvis Bay, and East London would have Isin. and 9.2 in. guns. . The Admiralty was lending the Erebus, which- was being reconditioned at a cost to South Africa of .£IOO,OOO. It was expected to arrive on September 1 and would'be manned by a naval personnel until a South African crew was trained. The Government plans, Mr. Pirow added, included the mobilisation of industries and non-profiteering in the Union and was exceeding the Imperial Defence Committee's suggestions as regards coast defence. , V MANDATE PROBLEM SOUTH-WEST AREA SECRECY OVER PLANS JOHANNESBURG, March 1. Although in Union military and Ministerial circles the greatest possible secrecy is being maintained, the defence of the South-West African mandate will constitute an important feature of Mr. O. Firow's £6,000,000 "rearmament" scheme. Acting with the approval of the Union Government, the South-West African Administration is conducting a preliminary survey-of the arms and defence situation in its territory, .by making a complete and comprehensive check-up on all rifles, revolvers and ammunition. Dr. G. G. Conradie, Administrator of South-West Africa, stated in an interview this week that "the Union. Government must undertake the defence of the mandate," although he had no information as to whether this had been contemplated in the evolution of its intensified defence programme. The Administration itself could not undertake defence measures, nor could it assume the responsibility of maintaining even a burgher force; for, besides the question of financial stringency, it was actually the Union Government's obligation. Yet one of the most important provisions of the mandate specified that the Urrion has no legal right to fortify the territory, establish military, air or naval 'bases, train natives or, in any way, go beyond the local (police) defence of South-West Africa, without the permission of the League Council. The only manifestations of militarism in South-West Africa on an organised and open basis are the local rifle and markesmen associations.' Whether or not the Union Government will obtain the authority of the League Council for the fortification of the mandated territory is still uncertain; the extent of such defence plans cannot be revealed at this stage, out there is a possibility that, besides coastal fortifications, a Union air will be set up there.