Evening star., 1939-04-23

consultation. Some informed Cana
dians say definite plan of joint
defense against any invasion Is al
This is denied officially heres but
Prime Minister King said in Feb
ruary debate in the House of Com
mons:
Il have not the least doubt that
there has been an exchange of in
formation between the authorities
in the United States and the au-
thorities in Canada with respect to
matters of common concern.
Certainly that would be most de-
sirable."
The men responsible for the ac-
tual handling of Canada's defenses
admit in private conversations that
the closer cooperation with the
United States is, the better they
like it. One high official went so
far as to advocate use of exactly
the same types of arms and am
munition by United States, Cana
dian, English and French armed
forces.
Information Exchanged.
There already is interchange of
military information between the
United States and England through
Canada. Canada learns of shifts in
English strategy as a member of
the empire. she learns of United
States plans as a partner in North
America. Exactly how much further
the exchange reaches is veiled in
official secrecy, but it is a we'll
advertised fact that as far as the
oceans on either side of her are
concerned. Canada relies mainly on
the United States and British Navies
the former in Pacific and the lat
ter in Atlantic waters.
War preparations in Canada to-
day are at their highest pitch since
the boys who were still living came
home. Defense estimates for 1882
40 are $63,447,175, almost double
those OF last yeaL Industrial re-
sources are being surveyed IN prep
aration for quick mobilizat ton. The
Dominion arsenal is being stepped
up. Munitions plants are picking
up speed. The militia, a small nu-
cleus on which the country ira
ditionally relies to train the bulk
of its fighters in event of an emer-
gency. has bee ncompletely reorgan-
lied and its equipment, is being
modernized. The regular army has
been drastically reshuff1ed to take
it off paper basis and put it
on its feet. with more emphasis on
anti-aircraft guns, tanks and other
motorized equipment. The hand
full of destroyers and mine sweep
ers which constitutes the navy is
being increased. and there is a
movement on foot to add cruisers
and capital ships.
A little Gibraltar" is being built
on the west coast around VAN
couver Island, commanding the
border harbor, defending the Es-
quimalt Naval Base and covering
the Western termini of transcon-
tinental railroads as we'll as coastal
shipping. At Nova Scotia, in the
East athwart the mouth of the
st. Lawrence River, $1,000 is
being spent to make that entrance
impregnable. On both coasts fish
ermen's fleets have been readied
for swift transformation into fight
ing units when the call comes; un-
til then they will function as OBJ
server guards against submarine or
other infiltration of enemy forces
into strategic spots along the coast
lines.
Largest Strides in Air.
But Canada is taking her long
est war steps in the air. A big slice
of next years defense money goes
for planes, 83 new ones being add
ed to the 102 ordered last year.
These are, comparatively, giant
strides. for defense officials now list
only so bombing, torpedo and other
fighting ships in service. Man power
also Is being increased In the fly
ing arm, from 600 men in 1896 to
2,07O this year In the permanent
force Tin addition there is a nom
permanent force. For training war
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