SOUTH AFRICA’S DEFENCES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 11

SOUTH AFRICA’S DEFENCES

Progress Of The Year

Reviewed

GENEROUS AID FROM BRITAIN By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 23, 7.30 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, March 23. The Defence Minister, Mr. Pirow, in his annual Defence statement in the Assembly today, said that the British Government had generously enabled South Africa s most urgent requirements to be met. The position with regard to arms and equipment had greatly improved. South Africa would soon be able to satisfy her own ammunition requirements. She now had 2080 air pilots, two bomber and two fighting squadrons, five training squadrons, one reconnaissance squadron and troop-carrier squadron. Each squadron, with reserves, comprised 25 planes.

The Union, went on Mr. Pirow, possessed 12 batteries of artillery. Man power was available at short notice and could be doubled. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Walvis Bay and East London would have 15 and 9.2-inch guns. The Admiralty was lending H.M.S. Erebus, which was being reconditioned at a cost to South Africa of £lOO,OOO. She was expected to arrive on September 1 and would be manned by naval personnel till a South African crew was trained. The Government’s plans, Mr. Pirow added, included the mobilization of industries and measures to check profiteering. The Union, he said, was exceeding the suggestions of the Imperial Defence Committee as regards coast defence.

FRENCH CANADIANS DEMONSTRATE

No Participation In War

In Europe (Received March 24, 11.30 p.m.) MONTREAL, March 24. More than 1500 French Canadians staged a demonstration today against Canadian participation in any war outside Canada. Tiie meeting was called by “Jeunesse,” the French Canadian Youth Movement. Similar sentiments were expressed at an earlier gathering of students at the Universitie de Montreal, who opposed the declarations made in Ottawa last Monday that Canada, if England were attacked, might be called on to assist.

“Down witli conscription.” “We will (lie fighting conscription before we yield.” “It is better to die in our native land than to die over there,” cried members of “Jeunesse.” A promise that he would save them from becoming “cannon fodder” was made by tire mayor of Montreal, M. Camillien Houde.

CANADA’S DEFENCES

Powerful Squadrons And New Airports OTTAWA, March 23. Answering a question in the House of Commons today, the Defence Minister, Mr. lan Mackenzie, stated : "Canada will immediately meet a Nazi threat of a German air base ou Iceland.’’ The defence programme is being revised so as to concentrate on the Atlantic seaboard. Aggressive steps will be taken at once to establish new airports and powerful squadrons in addition to plans already completed to guard every Canadian industrial plant, bridge and highway from sabotage in the event of war. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Ernest Lapointe, announced that the Government was considering a thorough investigation into subversive activities by organizations directed and financed from foreign lands.