CANADA’S GREAT PART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1942, Page 4

CANADA’S GREAT PART

IN ALLIED WAR EFFORT LAND, SEA AND AIR FORCES. DEFENCE OF ALASKA & PACIFIC COAST. OTTAWA, July 8. From Alaska to the Far East, Canadian Armed Forces are now on a worldwide front. The Bill enabling the Government to impose conscription for overseas service, having passed the second reading in the Canadian House of Commons by 158 votes to 54, now approaches the final Parliamentary stages. Ages for compulsory military service meanwhile are extended by proclamation from 21 to 35 years to 20 to 40 years. The chain of airports built through North-West Canada to Alaska, in. the words of the Minister of National Defence for Air, the Hon. C. C. Power, is proving of inestimable value. To meet a possible Japanese thrust a number of defensive airports are being rapidly developed along Canada’s Pacific coast. The Seventh and Eighth Army Divisions are being mobilised to provide mobile reserve support for coast defences. The active Army now numbers approximately 320,000 of whom a large percentage are overseas. The Reserve Army numbers an additional 130,000. Canada has 22 R.C.A.F. Squadrons overseas, with thousands of Canadian airmen distributed among R.A.F. units in every theatre of war. Canadian naval units are aiding American warships to meet the intensified menace of Axis submarines in United States waters.