ALL-IN EFFORT

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21601, 11 December 1941, Page 6

ALL-IN EFFORT

HOLIDAYS MUST END VERY GRAVE SITUATION AUSTRALIAN PROPOSALS (United Press Asm.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) MELBOURNE, Dec. 11 The Federal Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, said last night that the loss of H.M.S. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse was a sad blow’, indicating the gravity of the situation. There must be an end of all holiday plans. Every gallon of petrol that can be saved must be saved. There can be no longer any talk of business as usual but the absolute concentration of war production on war necessities. As early as possible regulations giving effect to these matters will be gazetted. Militia Call-up Recruiting depots have been ordered not to enlist militiamen for the Australian Imperial Force or the Royal Australian Air Force. This means the virtual cessation of recruiting for those services, as the militia call-up covers all single men and widowers without children between 18 and 35 years of age, thus only married men or men over 35 years of age are now’ eligible to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force or the Royal Australian Air Force. The Minister for the Army, Mr Forde, in announcing the order, said this had been done because of the necessity of maintaining the militia units at their present strength. KING’S MESSAGE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION (United 1 n-!,s .Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; (Received Dec. 11, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 10 The King’s message to the Governor of Hongkong stated: “In the hour of attack by the Japanese forces, in which Hongkong faces the first furies of the enemy, 1 send you and my people in the colony a message of confidence and encouragement in your ordeal. “I have every trust in your leadership and in the spirit of fearless devotion which will uphold the garrison and people of Hongkong. They are already sustained in the wanton and savage assault, but under God’s providence all efforts of the enemy will be brought to nought.”