AUSTRALIA PLANS DEFENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 302, 22 December 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIA PLANS DEFENCE

BASIC POST-WAR PRINCIPLES

BRITISH PEOPLE AND PRODUCTION UNITS TO BE BROUGHT OUT Reed. 8.30 p.m. Canberra, Dee. 21. Tlie transfer to Australia of British people and production units in shipbuilding, aircraft and other industries, is planned as part of Australia's post-war defence policy. This is one principle adopted by the War Cabinet and an-' nouneed to-day by Mr. Chifley, the Prime Minister. The proposals were made to Britain during the war, but because of the acute supply position, it was hot possible to develop them. Australia was told then that any scheme for affiliation of Australia’s production capacity with United Kingdom manufacturing resources was a matter of post-war policy. The guidingprinciples of post-war defence will be as follows: Naval Power: Provision for the maintenance of adequate manpower and standard of strength, and the provision of naval bases and facilities for repair and fuel. Air: Uniform development of air forces and the creation and maintenance of air bases and fuelling stations, and Air Force interchanges of personnel and units Munitions: Development of Empire resources to avoid, as far as possible, over-concentration of resources lor manufacture and supply in any area specially liable to attack. Development of manufacturing selfsufficiency and arrangements for combining manufacturing facilities between parts of the Empire. Aircraft and engines produced in Australia should be suitable not only for defence of Australia, but for defence of all British countries.

Canberra, Dec. 20. Older men are to be retired from Australia’s post-war Army and Air Force to make way for young men who have distinguished themselves in tnc Second World War. This was announced by Mr. Chifley in a review of the progress made by the Government’s advisors on the technical planning of post-war defence. Mr. Chifley said: “The experience of tlie last six years has demonstrated

, that the art of war has undergone j .great changes. It is therefore important that in the post-war development of our forces younger men who . have distinguished themselves in the 1 methods of the new war should have i an effective voice.’’ Mr. Chifley added that Australia’! , post-war Navy, Army, and Air Force • will be maintained at a level which I would allow quick expansion to a I maximum force in wartime.