Changes

The oppositon (the United Australia Party and the Country Party) strongly favoured the British Empire, and were eager to send the Navy and Air Force, which came under British command. They were also eager to send all four of Australia's divisions to help out but were stunned when the 8th Division in Malaya was surrendered to the Japanese with the fall of Singapore.  Everyone agreed that two of the three divisions in the Middle East had to be returned promptly, but the oppositionb secretly supported [[Winston Churchill]]'s scheme that would divert the divisions to defending Burma.  Curtin refused and the divisions came home.

The oppositon (the United Australia Party and the Country Party) strongly favoured the British Empire, and were eager to send the Navy and Air Force, which came under British command. They were also eager to send all four of Australia's divisions to help out but were stunned when the 8th Division in Malaya was surrendered to the Japanese with the fall of Singapore.  Everyone agreed that two of the three divisions in the Middle East had to be returned promptly, but the oppositionb secretly supported [[Winston Churchill]]'s scheme that would divert the divisions to defending Burma.  Curtin refused and the divisions came home.

Curtin became prime minister in October 1941. Nearly 500,000 men were under arms both at home and abroad out of a total population of 7,000,000.  

Curtin became prime minister in October 1941. Nearly 500,000 men were under arms both at home and abroad out of a total population of 7,000,000.