MIGHTY FORCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 14 May 1942, Page 4

MIGHTY FORCE

ASSEMBLING IN PACIFIC MR. FORDE’S HEARTENING REPORT (Special Aus. Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) Melbourne. May i2. “The lighting services of these two democracies--the United States and Australia will form the mightiest striking force ever assembled in .he Pacific.” declared tne Army Minister, Mr. Forde. H? emphasised the need for groa er and still greater production of munitions in Australia. Almost revolutionary changes in the defences of Australia had been made in the last four or live months. Army personnel had substantially increased. Equipment was rolling off the production lines as never before. Since his arrival in Melbourne, said Mr. Forde, he had had discussions with the commander of ihc Allied hnd forces in the South-west Pacific, General Blarney, and other high military officers, and had made a survey wi li them of the equipment position. H“ was pleased wr.h the great advances, though not yet satisfied. Moro rifles, sub-machine-guns, anti-tank ami antiaircraft guns, and bigger supplies of ammunition were being made available in vver-imre-i'-ing cjuantitiej. However, though there had h-'en this big improvement in the equipping ol the forces, men in any one locali y must not be discouraged il they (id not get all th? equipment they desired. There was necessarily an order of priority based on Australia-wide strategy. The morale of the Army, munitions factories and supply workshops had never been better. Every man and woman so employed should strain every nerve to increase the output of war equipment. "We can only secure our soldiers' success in battle if we provide them with an adequate supply of modern war equipment,” declared Mr. Forde. He paid a tribute lo the forces of the United States who, he said, were well trained, well equipped and ready for any eventualitv.