AUSTRALIA USES TRAINS

Southland Times, Issue 24229, 12 September 1940, Page 7

AUSTRALIA USES TRAINS

Air Force Recruiting

Drive

NAVAL MINE OUTPUT TO BE INCREASED

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 11, 11.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 11.

Two specially fitted recruiting trains will leave Sydney within a few days for a State-wide six months’ drive for Air Force recruits. It is expected that 5000 men will be dealt with by the staffs aboard the train, which will be able to accomplish all the work usually done by the metropolitan recruiting centres.

A substantial expansion in Australia’s output of naval mines for local defence and for Admiralty requirements was approved,by the War Cabinet to-

day. In addition a 3000-ton merchant ship will be fitted out as a mine-layer, manned by a naval crew. The Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) announced that preparations are being made for mining important strategical points round the Australian coast. INCREASED SHIPPING LOSSES WEATHER FAVOURS U-BOATS LONDON, September 10. The increased shipping losses for the week ended September I—losses .which totalled. 84,575 tons—are attributed to the ideal weather and the good visibility which favoured the U-boats. The figures of mercantile shipping losses due to enemy action for the week ending midnight September 1, show that a total of 20 ships, representing 84,575 tons, were sunk. Five were Allied vessels, of a total of 15,038 tons, four were neutral (13,517 tons), and 11 Were British (56,020 tons). Although the figure is in excess of the weekly average since the outbreak of war, it is again below the weekly average for the period of intensified activity which began on May 27. It is authoritatively stated that the mercantile fleet flying the British flag is larger than that available when the war began.