HISTORY MADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1941, Page 5

HISTORY MADE

STRONG CANADIAN FORCE IN HONG KONG GARRISON HEAVILY REINFORCED. DEFENCES STRENGTHENED. LONDON, November 16. For the first time in history, Canadian armed forces are in Hong Kong. A contingent which has arrived there includes men of English, Scottish, Irish and Scandinavian descent, together with a number of volunteers from the United States. The contingent was welcomed by the Governor of Hong Kong and others and a message of welcome was received from Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, Commander-in-Chief in the Far East. The garrison of Hong Kong had already been reinforced by British regulars and volunteers, Indian troops and Chinese sappers. The defences of the island have been strengthened greatly and trial blackouts are held regularly. UNITED ACTION AGAINST AGGRESSION. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT. OTTAWA, November 15. The Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, announced that a considerable force of Canadian troops have arrived in Hong Kong to strengthen the British garrison there and for defence “against aggression, actual or threatened, in any part of the world. It is in accordance with this view that the Government deemed it advisable to associate Canadian troops with those of forces from other parts of the British Commonwealth now stationed in the Orient, he said. The Canadian force is under the command of Brigadier J. K. Lawson. It had an uneventful voyage.