Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 17 February 1942, page 2


AUSTRALIAN RIFLES SENT TO BRITAIN

OFFSETTNG LOSSES AT

DUNKIRK

Call For More Weapons

SYDNEY, Monday.

The Minister for Munitions (Mr.

Makin) today revealed that mem-bers of the militia and Volunteer Defence Corps had been compelled at one stage to train with broom-

sticks instead of rifles because all Australia's reserve stocks of rifles had been sent to Britain following the Dunkirk retreat.

Pointing out that British troops at Dunkirk had to abandon so much of their equipment that, if Germany had seized the opportunity to attack Britain, there would not have been enough rifles to go round, Mr. Makin said that the reserve supplies in the Commonwealth were immediately shipped to Britain to help her in her dire need. For this reason men in Australia had had to go short.

Disclosing that Australia's re-serve stock had now been built up to pre-Dunkirk level, Mr. Makin said

that, in spite of this, we must have more rifles as we never know when another emergency might occur.

"We would like to see more Bren and Owen guns, but they will be some time coming along," added the Minister, who said that already the A.I.F. had to be fully re-equipped with rifles on three occasions.

Any man or woman who walks

out on his job walks out on Austra-

lia, declared Mr. Makin in appealing for nothing less than 100 per cent. production of munitions.