MAY COST FIFTEEN MILLIONS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21183, 2 November 1938, Page 7

MAY COST FIFTEEN MILLIONS

BIGGER NAVY FOR AUSTRALIA Battleship May Be Built More Men for All Services Thousands to be Called United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 1, 10.40 pm.) SYDNEY, November 1. The Canberra correspondent of “The Sydney Sun” states that plans for strengthening the Australian Navy with a battleship equipped with 16-inch guns, costing £11,000,000, are before the Federal Cabinet and will probably be approved. The correspondent adds: With the necessary escort craft and docking for such a vessel, the total cost would be not less than £15,000.000. The Federal Government has been assured that such a ship could be turned out of the British yards in four years. Extension of Recruiting The Minister of Defence (Mr Thorby) announced to-day the enlistment of a special defence auxiliary, of former air officers and men, at least 100 of whom will perform instructional work. It is also intended to form garrison militia units In all industrial areas, while members of rifle clubs will be trained to use machine-guns to protect bridges, oil tanks and munition dumps. In addition about 2000 officers and men will be added to the naval strength and 3000 :o the Air Force.