CANADA PREPARED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 298, 18 December 1941, Page 5

CANADA PREPARED

THE WAR WITH JAPAN PLAN IN THE PACIFIC NOW IN OPERATION (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Oltawa, Dec. 14.

War with Japan finds Canada pre- • pared. For some months past naval, • military and air authorities on the Pacific coast have been working on defence plans. These now have gone into operation. Under plans recommended by the United States and Canada Joint Defence Board a series of air bases have been established on Canadian territory, which brings Alaska within five hours’ flying time of the United States.

Press reports from British Columbia indicate that the Japanese population is taking the situation calmly. All persons of Japanese birth or origin were registered and fingerprinted under a voluntary system some time ago. Japanese who there lis reason to believe may he dangerous to the State are to be interned. All other Japanese, and Japanese naturalised since 1922, are required to register with the police. Canadian troops are already in the bat lie front since a group arrived at Hongkong in mid-November. Canadian areas designated as subject to the hazard of enemy attack are extended to include the entire Atlantic coast south of Labrador and the entire Pacific coast south of Alaska. The extension was made by Order-in-Council on the recommendatin of a joint staff committee of the three defence services. Previously the areas comprised certain important centres on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. | Certain important industrial centres in the interior were regarded as subIject to slight risk. Air raid precautions will be extended in accordance with the new order. The west coast risk is considered greatest at the vital railheads of Vancouver and Prince Rupert and at the lower end of Vancouver Island. On the Allanite coast in Canadian territory, says a statement issued by the Minister of Pensions and National Health, the Hon. lan Mack-nzie, the risk is considered definite on the entire mainland coast of Noya Scotia an Cape Breton and Prince Edward Islands. A lesser risk is considered to exist in New' Brunswick and in Quebec along the banks of the St Lawrence as far as Montreal. A slight risk is considered to exist in the rest of Quebec and Ontario as far west as the 85th degree west longitude, which crosses the province of Ontario just west of Sauli Ste Marie. All provincial governments affected have been notified of the desirability of developing existing air laid precautions. Britlish Columbia has accepted an offer from the Government of Ontario for the use of fire-fighting equipment of the Ontario Forestry Service. The equipment is to be placed in operation in the event of air raids, chiefly in outlying areas near cities where the regular civic fire-fighting services may not. be immediately available. It is sufficient for a fire-fighting force of between eight and ten thousand men and is valued at from 500.000 to 750.000 dollars.

Canadian Tanks for Russia. The first Canadian-built tanks are expected shortly to be in action on the Russian front. They are medium infantry tanks, known as Valentines, and are equipped to the last detail. The first shipment left Canada several weeks ago. A steady stream of completed units is leaving the production line. Mr. Louis St. Laurent, of Quebec, is appointed Minister of Justice in succession to the late Rt. Hon. Ernest La Pointe.