WAR CABINET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20044, 16 September 1939, Page 5

WAR CABINET

CANBERRA CHOICE FOUR NAMES ANNOUNCED DEFENCE EXPENDITURE INCREASE TO £45,000,000 ENLISTING SPECIAL FORCE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Tress Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 16, 10 a.m.) CANBERRA, Sept. 15. During a broadcast to-night, the Prime Minister ot Australia, Mr. R. G. Menzies, announced the War Cabinet, consisting of himself and also the following:— Attorney-General, Mr. W. M. Hughes. Minister of Supply and Development. —Mr. R. G. Casey. Minister of Defence.—-Brigadier G. A. Street.

Minister of External Affairs, Sir Henry Gullett. Minister of Commerce.—Senator G. McLeay. The War Cabinet will conduct a day-to-day administration, will report to the full Cabinet at intervals, and will make decisions without reference to the full Cabinet.

The Federal Cabinet to-day decided to raise immediately a special volunteer force of at least 20,000 men for service at home or abroad. The enlistment and training of this force will not interfere with the present plans for the intensified training of the militia which was previously recruited.

Jump in Expenditure

The Cabinet has also decided to increase the defence exDenditure from £33,000,000 to £45,000,000 for this year. Mr. Menzies broadcast the main features of .the revised defence programme. He confirmed the Government’s intention to enlist forthwith 20,000 men for service at home or abroad as circumstances permit. Their services will be availed of for the duration of the war, preference being given to single men not occupying essential or key jobs. These men might be used for the defence of Australia or be garrisoned in the Pacific.

Mr. Menzies added that it might even be practicable to send an expeditionary force to Europe. Mr. Menzies also announced that 80,000 voluntary militia recruited some time ago will be called up in two sucessive drafts for one month’s training.