MEN WANTED

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21368, 12 March 1941, Page 7

MEN WANTED

HOME AND OVERSEAS DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA DRIVE IN VICTORIA (United Press Assi.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) MELBOURNE, March 11 Plans lor an immediate drive to recruit hundreds of additional men each week from Victoria for the Australian Imperial Force reinforcej ments were announced today. The objective is 200 men a day. I The men to be enlisted will be over j and above the monthly quota of 1500 * allocated to Victoria when general recruiting was resumed on February 24. Officers said the increased intake was necessary because of increased Australian Imperial Force activity overseas and the formation of new units in Australia. Since the resumption of general recruiting preference has been given to single men, but it is regarded as significant that today’s official announcement merely states that the men must be between the ages of 20 and 40. Men accepted will be eligible for allotment to the armoured division when it is raised. Cut in Petrol Ration The petrol allowance for private motorists has been cut by approximately one-quarter—to correspond with a reduction from 4000 to 3000 miles a year. This new scale was announced today by the Minister of Supply, Senator Mcßride, and will apply to rations for April and May. Resignation of Admiral The Minister of the Navy, Mr W. M. Hughes, announced that the first member of the Commonwealth Naval Board, Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, is resigning owing to indifferent health, and pending the appointment of his successor, who will be recommended by the British Admiralty, Commodore J. W. Dunford will fulfil his duties. WORKERS AND AIRMEN EXCHANGE OF VISITS WARM PRAISE OF MACHINES (Official Wireless) RUGBY, March 10 The practice of exchanging visits between aircraft factory workers and the airmen who fly the planes which these workers made continues, and during a recent visit of Lysander aircraft workers to a station of the Royal Air Force Army Co-operation Command the visitors heard warm praise of their machines from the commander of the squadron, who by way of illustration told them how during the Scandinavian campaign their fine craftsmanship had enabled him to achieve a landing in bad weather in Norway in space “ about the size of four tennis courts.” The visitors were shown aircraft at the dispersal points, and watched Lysanders flying on exercises. They also inspected the maintenance units and talked to the airmen at work on aircraft in the open air. The mechanical technicalities of Lysanders were fully discussed and opinions on the various component parts were sought by the visitors, while the pilots and aircraftsmen put many questions, which were answered by representatives of the different branches of the factory. ITALIAN CASUALTIES 26,000 IN FEBRUARY (United Tress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 10 A Rome communique, giving Italian casualties during February or not previously reported, admits over 26,000 dead, wounded or missing. Detailed figures are:—Greek front, 2386 dead, 4841 wounded, 5590 missing; North Africa, 68 dead, 98 wounded, 12,230 missing; East Africa, 127 dead, 530 wounded, 126 missing; Navy, 35 dead, 20 wounded, 142 missing; Air Force, 37 dead, 87 wounded, 165 missing. The communique adds that events in the war, particularly in Cyrenaica, made it impossible to receive a complete record of losses from divisional commanders.