GRAVE WARNING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1941, Page 6

GRAVE WARNING

SOUNDED IN AUSTRALIA MR. FADDEN ON DANGER OF WAR. ALL POSSIBLE PREPARATION MADE. <By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) 'Received This Dav. 1.20 p.m.) SYDNEY. This Day. In a grave warning to the nation that a crisis seemed to be imminent, the Acting-Federal Premier (M. Fadden) said the disabling of Australia had now become a strategic objective of the enemy, because Australia was a great supplier of foodstuffs and war materials to Britain and the rest of the Empire. “It should be realised by everyone in Australia," he said, “that our immediate future holds some very grave possibilities. The Government is straining every nerve to marshal the full resources of the- nation. Our war effort is increasing rapidly and training and equipment for home defence arc nearing their peak. Within a relatively short time. .Australia can become s<> strong that no country dare attack it. The possibility of attack has long been forseen. “Through our munitions programme, our air scheme and the expansion of our land forces, we could today offer a degree of resistance that would have beer unthinkable when the war began. <>r even a year ago.”