EMPIRE NAVIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1940, Page 5

EMPIRE NAVIES

IMMEDIATE TRANSFER TO BRITAIN ON OUTBREAK OF WAR. VALUABLE REINFORCEMENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 2. The spontaneous and overwhelming offers of support from the Dominions and colonies since the outbreak of the war have caused some concern to the enemy, whose propaganda, has repeatedly belittled I he potential and actual support, from the Empire and even foretold the Empire’s early disintegration. Men, money, munitions and supplies of all kinds are reaching Britain in an ever-swelling spate, but the first and among the greatest of the Empire's war contributions was the reinforcement, of the British Fleet by the navies of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India immediately the war broke out. The greatest of these reinforcements came from Australia, with six cruisers, one flotilla-leader, four destroyers and two escort vessels. In addition Australia is now building three destroyers of the Tribal class, and four escort vessels are nearing completion. A number of ships have been requisitioned for mine-sweeping and patrol work. Seven mine-sweeping and anti-submarine vessels are being laid down, and a flotilla of fast motor torpedo-boats has been ordered. AUSTRALIA & CANADA. - Australia trains her own officers and ratings, and now, with the exception of a few senior officers and warrant officers, the personnel of her navy is entirely Australian. The personnel provided for in the 1939-40 estimates was 555 officers and 5752 ratings. Reserve forces totalling some 500 officers and 5000 men were called upon the outbreak of the war to complete the seagoing fleet to its war complement and man auxiliary craft for local defence. The Royal Canadian Navy, which was established in 1910, had at the outbreak of the war a personnel of some 500 officers and 1800 men, who were immediately reinforced by calling up a further 1800 reservists. Many others have joined up and are now under training. When the war began Canada’s fleet consisted of six modern destroyers and five mine-sweeping trawlers. In 1939 the 36-knot flotilla-leader Kempenfelt was taken over from the Royal Navy and renamed. By November 40 vessels were requisitioned for mine-sweeping and patrol work, and a number of naval mine-sweepers and fast patrol vessels are already on the stocks. NEW ZEALAND'S CONTRIBUTION. Though New Zealand has had no seagoing fleet of her own since 1925, she has been lent two cruisers of the Royal Navy, which she maintains at her own expense—H.M.S. Achilles, made famous in the engagement with the Admiral Graf Spee, and H.M.S. Leander.

At the beginning of the war there were some 700 New Zealand naval ratings, who were immediately reinforced by the calling up of 700 reservists. With this force the Dominion has already provided armed merchant cruisers and a number of mine-sweeping trawlers.

New Zealand also contributed £1.000,000 toward the construction of the Singapore naval base. In 1938 the Government of India undertook to maintain at least six modern escort vessels for co-operation with the Royal Navy in the defence of India. The Royal Indian Navy at present consists of five escort vessels, one patrol vessel, one survey ship, one training, and depot ship, and various auxiliary craft based on the naval dockyard in Bombay. Four more modern escort vessels are about to be built. Apart from the reserves, the seagoing strength of the Royal Indian Navy is approximately 170 officers and 1500 men. South Africa has no navy of her own but has undertaken the defence of the Union’s harbours and her 1800 miles coast-line. Shortly after the war began a special seaward defence force was organised, and this includes a large number of trawlers and other vessels well equipped for mine-sweeping and patrol work, and also an air arm. whose reconnaissance squadrons patrol far out to sea protecting the trade routes. The South African division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, which, in peace time, numbers 65 officers and approximately 1000 men. is rapidly expanding.