GREAT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 5

GREAT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

SWITCH IN BRITAIN VAST ECONOMIC CHANGE MR. ATTLEE TELLS OF MIGHT ARRAYED AGAINST JAPAN. Loudon, Nov. 9. The economic switch-over going on in Britain constituted an industrial revolution greater in size and speed than any previously in this or any other country, saici Mr. Attlee, speaking at the Lord Mayor’s luncheon. As a result oi planned releases from the services and munitions, about 4,000,000 persons would have changed their occupation between V.J.-Day and the end of the year. He did not claim that Government planning and supervision had been faultless but the absence of a major dislocation and unemployment was some tribute to tlie success with which it had been planned and executed. There were already encouraging visible signs of increased production of the things everybody wanted. The Government regarded a revival of export trade as of prime importance.

“It is our firm intention that this country should be able to stand on its own feet at the earliest possible moment, anji' therefore to be master of its political as well as its economic destiny,” he added. “We are seeking to get rid of not only the fear of war, but also fear of want. There is far more agreement throughout Britain than ever before on the need for giving our people economic social security. We are seeking to provide an all-embracing scheme worthy of a great people.

“I think it is well that this country and the world should know the extent of the effort we were preparing against Japan,” continued Mr. Attlee. “Our forces after destroying about 130,000 Japanese who operated against us in Burma, were preparing to advance to Siam. Further forces, comprising 250,000 men from all parts of the British Commonwealth, were preparing to liberate Malaya and Singapore, and thus open the short sea route to the Pacific.

“In the south-west Pacific there were six Australian divisions, and we were preparing a composite Commonwealth force of Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and British troops to take part in the actual invasion of Japan. 177 COMBAT SQUADRONS

“In total we were planning to deploy in India and east thereof 2,500,000 troops. The R.A.F., together with the Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Indian and South African Air Forces, would have put into the air 177 combat squadrons, of which 20 would have been heavy bombing squadrons particularly detailed for strategic night bombing of Japan. “The Pacific Fleet, already large when Japan fell, was to have been built up to some 540 ships of all kinds, including fonr battleships 14 large car riers 18 small carriers, seven flotillas of destroyers and 350 landing craft. This would have included Canadian, Australian and New Zealand ships, in addition, there was the British East Indies Fleet, and also South African, Indian, French and Dutch ships, totalling 435 ships, and 740 coastal and landing craft. “The total number of fighting men and women from the Empire and Commonwealth would have numbered 3 500,000, of whom approximately 1.750 000 would have come from this country alone.