1940-11-08 — Page 17

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 8, 1940 ́

CANADIANS' MIGHTY WAR EFFORT

THE ARRIVAL OF Australians and New Zea- landers has completed the Imperial family of air- men in Canada. Already the first graduates of Canada's giant air university are ready to take their places in the fighting forces of the Empire, and young recruits from the British Isles are scattered through the Empire Air Scheme training camps that girdle Canada from east to west.

As the first graduates left Canadian schools, the schools were increasing rapidly in number and cap- acity. The output of fliers will increase steadily as the historic scheme leaps ahead to full maturity and the ultimate goal-complete and crushing British air supremacy.

At the end of September 4.500 elementary training trainers have enrolled in Canadian, flying schools providing instruc- tion for fighting personnel-pilots, observers, and gunners-and 7,500 more were in training as service and maintenance men.

'planes

already have been delivered from Canadian plants. One Canadian factory is producing two a day. By the end of 1940 Canada will have produced the 800 elementary training 'planes required by the air plan.

Nine Canadian factories are en- gaged in production of the twin-. engined advanced Arison training 'plane, 1,509 of which are to be built for the air university in Canada. Canada has contracted

Air Force Already 25,000

In Canada alone new recruits are being taken on at the rate of 700 a week. The rise of Royal for 5,000 training 'planes from the Canadian Air Force strength from United States in anticipation of 4,500 to 25,000 men and ofcers the Air Scheme reaching maturity in the past year is accounted for by enrolment of men to operate 1941-nearly a year ahead of the air training plan and pupils

the original schedule. who will pass through the schools

to combat in the skies.

· Of the 83 training establish- ments Canada is building and equipping for the Air Scheme, 33 already are functioning fully, and by the year-end the number in operation will be 48.

All 90 aerodromes needed are nearing completion, and all will finally be completed by Novem- ber 15. Work has been rushed on a 24-hour-per-day basis, and superhuman building feats have been accomplished since the Ger- man blitzkrieg began in earnest. The progress made in airport and hangar construction is astounding. Nearly all Canadian training cen- tres are larger and more fully equipped "than Royal Air Force flying schools in Britain.

Air. observers.

the first. graduates of the Empire Air Scheme in Canada. First pilots are completing their courses by the end of October, and air-gun- ners will follow shortly after. All graduating students began their intensive courses last April, almost simultaneously with Aus- tralian contemporaries.

were.

.

facing Canadian air "schoolmas- One of the biggest problems

ters" has been selection of students' from the thousands who have volunteered. Young Canadians have been just as enthusiastic as young Australians in flocking to the Empire air standards.

All Services Swelling

The strength of Canada's three defence services the military Active Service Force, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force has been

―

multiplied respectively 35, six,

and six times since started.

Ray Milland. 38 "John," most romantically inclined of the "Geste" brothers, is co- starred with Gary Cooper and Robert Preston in Paramount's great new version of "Beau Geste." This rousing picturi- sation of adventure in the French Foreign Legion will have its local premiere shortly at the Queen's and Alhambra Theatres..

BOOK CLUB MEETING

the war The sixteenth annual meeting These accomplishments of the Hong Kong Book Club was are recorded in an official United held in the Post Office Building States publication reporting on a this week. survey of Canada's war effort.

The evacuation was mentioned The Foreign Policy As as likely to affect seriously mem-- sociation report commented par-bership in the coming year, as ticularly on the "spectacular ex- many members were women now pansion" of the Royal Canadian gone to Australia and elsewhere. Air Force and hinted that the

Mr. R. A. D. Forrest was rapidly rearming United States elected President, while Dr. G. E. could learn much from the Em-

Rowan again undertook the duties pire Air Scheme.

of Honorary Secretary.

as

re-

The President thanked those who attended, and urged them to introduce new members as where could $15 be applied to a better purpose,

no-

The Canadian Active Service Force now numbers 155,000, against 4,500 troops a year ago. Since April, graduating air. Last week the Canadian Navy gunhera have Tearned about Minister, Mr. Macdonald, announ- photography and mapping in one ced that 11,500 troops had safely school, bombing and gunnery in landed in England: These, added another, and air navigation to an estimate of 35,000 already their "conlor.course" in an-

there (British Press figures), made war vessels in service has grown other.

a total of 46,500 Canadians ready from 15 vessels to 113. to engage in the Battle of Britain.

Pilots left initial training schools for elementary flying training Other detachments of the C.A.S.F. schools, and are now completing are in Iceland, the Caribbean, and their training in service flying Newfoundland. schools, where conditions of com- Canadian naval

When war was declared, there were 4.000 officers and men in the Canadian Air Force. Now there are 25,000, according to a recent strength has statement by the Defence Minis-

bat are simulated as closely as increased from 1,700 officers and ter, Mr. Ralston. The latter gure possible.

men to 10,000. The number of is growing by leaps and bounds.

Air-gunners left

the initial training centres for a lengthy course in wireless telegraphy, and are now spending their final four weeks at bombing and gunnery schools,

British Aid Not Needed

Drawing freely on United States reserves and whipping its own air might into fighting trim, Canada' will be able to complete the aero- plane production demands for the training plans without Britain's assistance, according to the Muni- tions Minister, Mr. C. D. Howe, Such great strides have been made by the Canadian aircraft industry, states Mr. Howe, that the larger part of the original production programme covering two years has been pressed into one year.

Elementary training 'plangs already are being manufacturëd In Canada, on a mass produc: tion basis, and, Mr. Howe adde construction of advanced_train- Ing planes fa proceeding in. accord with needs of an ac- celtrated training schedule, As pilots Graduate from prelf- minary training in elementary. 'planes, advanced training planes ture becoming available from Canadian" and United States fac- torics. Deliveries of Harvards began on August 1. Nearly 400

Cary Grant and Rosalind "Russel are shown abova în m "romantic' scene from Columbia's wild, witty, comedy, "Hia ̈Girl - Friday," now at the King's Theatre" with Ralph 'Bellamy “foas tured. A knock-down, drag-out battle-between the stars, tho Howard Hawke, production Includes In Ite cast such players"as” Cliff Edwards, Gene Lockhart, Erhost Truax, Holon Mack, Port or Hall, John Qualen and Roscoo Karns.