LATE NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 24499, 29 July 1941, Page 6

LATE NEWS

AUSTRALIA IS READY PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE (Rec. 2.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, July 28. “Australians will not run away from their difficulties or fail to defend those places and zones upon which their free future depends,” said the Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, in a statement on the Japanese position. Australia, Mr Menzies added, had always stood, and still stood, for peace in the Pacific, but the presence of Australian troops -in Malaya and the vast preparation they had been making for home defence and their munitions production were all an earnest example of the resolute spirit which existed in the Australian people. It had always been Australia’s earnest desire that the status quo in the Far East should remain unaffected by the European war. At no stage had Australia had any designs against Japan or Japan’s legitimate interests. “Australia stands firmly side by side with the othei’ countries of the British Empire,” said the Prime Minister. “He was happy to think that in the steps that had been taken Australia had also been able to find herself side by side with the United States. Officers, non-commissioned officers and key administrators, totalling about 25 per cent, of the Australian militia strength, are to be called up for fulltime service for the duration. This is a feature of the drastic alterations of the Australian militia training system approved by the Minister of the Army, Mr P. C. Spender, and the War Cabinet. The estimated cost is about £2,000,000. PARTY SUPPORTS MR MENZIES CANBERRA, July 28. A meeting of the United Australia Party which discussed the leadership ’for five hours today resulted in an overwhelming majority supporting Mr Menzies in the leadership and desiring no change. The party whip, Mr J. A. Guy, making this announcement, said that no motion was submitted. Thirteen members out of a possible total of 40 failed to attend.