AIR CO-OPERATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1941, Page 6

AIR CO-OPERATION

WITH ARMY LN AUSTRALIA GENERAL SIR T. BLAMEY’S RECOMMENDATION. 1 NOW BEING CONSIDERED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. General Sir T. Blarney has recommended that there should be direct air co-operation with the Army in Australia. This system already applies to the A.I.F. in the Middle East. The Minister for the Army, Mr Forde, said an air co-operation plan for Australia, which was embodied in Sir T. Blarney’s report, was now being considered. The supply of suitable aircraft and equipment would be the big factor to be discussed before the plan could be adopted, but no time would be lost. The Government will insist that the A.I.F. is fully equipped for modern warfare before being sent into action,” said Mr Forde. “Australian soldiers will at least be given an equal chance with the enemy they were asked to face. No matter how brave flesh and blood may be, it cannot be expected to stand up against iron and steel.”

A.I.F. CASUALTIES. Mr Forde announced that A.I.F. casualties in the Middle East total 12,950. Details are as follow:— Killed in action, 83 officers and 1,117 of other ranks. Died of wounds: 18 officers and, 354 of other ranks. Prisoners of war dead, one officer and seven of other ranks. Wounded in action, 258 officers and 4,305 of other ranks. Wounded and missing, seven officers and 119 of other ranks. Missing, 92 officers and 2,294 of other ranks. Massing, believed killed, seven officers and 86 of other ranks. Missing, believed prisoners of war. 43 officers and 985 of other rankers. Prisoners of war, 124 officers and 2,687 of .other ranks. Prisoners of war and 1 wounded, eight officers and 216 of other ranks. Not yet diagnosed, no officers and 39 of other ranks. The total of casualties in the A.I.F. in all theatres of the war to September 25 last was recently given as 13,143.