Sept. 19.
Occasionally references are made by leading statesmen to the part the various Dominions are playing in this gigantic struggle for democracy, but seldom does information come to hand detailing the extent of their efforts. Such information is given in a booklet published by the Austra-ian authorities entitled "What is Australia Doing." A rapid survey of the position shows that the defences of Australia were never as strong as they are today, that despite a small population and an extensive coastline Australia is not only ready but well-equipped with men to give substantial assistance to the Empire; that since the Great War of 1914- 1918 Australia has made remarkable strides in the production of her own war requirements, and that the difficult foundational work necessary to enable Australia to give good account of herself against any enemy who might come to her shores has virtually been completed. That then is the present Position of the Dominion, and it is interesting, to pass from that statement to figures snowing what is being done in connection with the present struggle.
During the first ten months of the year 121,230 men enlisted for overseas service, as compared with 96,845 in the similar period of the last war. Of that number over 23,000 Jare recruits or prospective recruits for the Em= pire Air Training Scheme. On June 30, 1940, 15,200 persons were engaged in essential work producing munitions in Government factories and munitions annexes as compared with 2,187 twenty-six years ago. In the Royal Australian Navy there has been an increase in personnel of 250 per cent. since April 1939. During that period ten naval vessels have been laid down in Australia including destroy ers and patrol vessels. Preparatory work has been commenced on ten more, while additional establishments are being started on shipbuilding, and in a few months the output of two completed vessels a month will have been reached. The number of military aircraft has been doubled. At the end of May, of this year, the production of small arms ammunition was four times as great as it was in April, 1939: by the end of the year it is expected to be eight times greater.
There has been a spectacular increase in the rate of the production of larger ammunition. The output of shells has been increased fifteen times, bombs twenty-five times, depth charges twenty times, cartridge cases four and fuses and primers seven times. The rate of the production of rifles was fifteen times greater than in April, 1939, It would be possible to extend the list much further but perhaps the most conclusive way of demonstrating the magnitude of the Australian effort would be to compare the estimated cost of Australia's defence and war programme for the period 1938-1939 to 1941-1942 with that of the five year plan in connection with the last war, The cost of the present four-year plan is estimated at £453,000,000 as compared with £270,059,000 of twenty-six years ago. But the former figure is not 10 be taken as final. The present war programme is flexible and capable of expansion or adjustment as the situation requires, What may be the ultimate cost cannot at present be estimated, but the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that no limit to the war effort can be regarded as fixed or final.
So rapid a survey of Australia's effort must necessarily exclude a substantial number of other items with regard to which Australia is developing her resources, The Dominion has set out to become, within a short period, a strong, self-reliant nation in the Pacific. The above striking record of what has been, and what is being done indicates that the nation possesses resources, and sts men have technical ability sufficient 10 overcome all manner of difficulties which rapid industrial expansion necessary to a modern war pro= gramme involves. "Building on that foundation strength will be added to strength in the Australian defence system as each month goes by, and as the pamphlet says "Australia not only can but will, if necessary, make an enemy coming to our' shores realize that he has undertaken a difficult task. We not only have the men and the spirit of our British tradition to resist to the utmost, but we have acquired and are acquiring each month vital modern war equipment." The record is a gratifying one, and something of which every Australian, and indeed every Briton may well be proud.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.