CANADA READY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 December 1941, Page 4

CANADA READY

OPERATIONS AGAINST JAPAN DEFENCE PLANS. PRECAUTIONS ON PACIFIC SEABOARD. War with Japan finds Canada prepared. For some months past naval, military and air authorities on the Pacific coast have been working on defence plans. These now have gone into operation. Under plans recommended, by the United States and Canada Joint Defence Board a series of air bases have been established on Canadian territory which brings Alaska within five hours flying time of the United States. Press reports from British Columbia indicate that the Japanese population is taking the situation calmly. All persons of Japanese birth or origin were registered and finger-printed under a voluntary system some time ago. Japanese who there is reason to believe may be dangerous to the State are to be interned. All other Japanese, and Japanese naturalised since 1922, are required to register with the police. Canadian troops are already in battle front since a group arrived fr Hong Kong in mid-November. Canadian areas designated as subject to the hazard of enemy attack are extended to include the entire Atlantic coast south of Labrador and the entire Pacific coast south of Alaska. The ex_tention was made by Order-in-Council on the recommendation of a joint staff committee of the three defence services. Previously the areas" comprised certain important centres on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Certain important industrial centres in the interior were regarded as subject' to slight risk. Air raid precautions will be extended in accordance with the new order. The west coast risk is considered greatest at the vital railheads of Vancouver and Prince Rupert and at the lower end of/Vancouver Island. On the Atlantic coast in Canadian territory, says a statement issued by the Minister of Pensions and National Health, the Hon lan Mackenzie, the risk is considered definite on the entire mainland coast of Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton and Prince Edward Islands. A lesser risk is considered to exist in New Brunswick and in Quebec along the banks of the St Lawrence as far as Montreal. A slight risk is considered to exist in the rest of Quebec and Ontario as far west as the 85th degree west longitude, which crosses the Province of Ontario just west of Sault Ste Marie. All provincial governments affected have been notified of the desirability of developing existing air raid precaution. British Columbia has accepted an offer from the Government of Ontario for the use of fire fighting equipment of the Ontario Forestry Service. The euipment is to be placed in operation in the event of air raids, chiefly in outlying areas near cities where the regular civic fire fighting services may not be immediately available. It is sufficient for. a fire fighting force of between eight and ten thousand men and is valued at from 500,000 dollars to 750,000 dollars.