BEST ARMY IN HISTORY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21818, 22 November 1940, Page 5

BEST ARMY IN HISTORY

South Africa Well Equipped By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 21, 6.39 p.m.) PRETORIA, November 20. General Smuts, in a speech, said South Africa had now the greatest and best equipped army in her history. He was amazed at the success achieved in building up the country’s defence in spite of political and other difficulties placed in the Government’s way. The army had been built up entirely by volunteers. Referring to industrial development he said that it had been stimulated by the war and he revealed that South Africa was supplying Britain with armoured cars constructed of South African steel. “While we are winning the war we arc also laying the foundation of industrial peace. The Government has appointed a committee headed by Major van der Byl, Minister without Portfolio, with the object of planning for the post-war period.” General Smuts denounced the Ossewarbandwag, a secret Afrikander society, which he described as a sinister coterie trying to introduce Nazism into South Africa. The Government would not hesitate to move r gainst the society if necessary In spite of Dr. Malan’s declaration that this would have serious results. It had been discovered that members of the society were secretly drilling at night.