HOME AND ABROAD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 122, 5 March 1936, Page 5

HOME AND ABROAD

MODERNISED COAST DEFENCE. AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. REFERENCE TO ITALY. (United Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 4. The White Paper on Defence states that the modernisation of coast defence at home and abroad' will he proceeded with at an accelerated rate, and the reorganisation of the anti-aircraft defences in the south-east of England will l-.e extended to cover important industrial districts in the centre and north of Britain.

Four new auxiliary Royal Air Force squadrons will he formed for co-opera-tion with the territorial army. With such wide Imperial responsibilities, ability to reinforce any threatened area in sufficient time and strength demands the location of air units at convenient places on the strategic air routes. An increase of approximately 12 squa,drons is proposed to this end. On air raid precautions, a. department of the Home Office has been actively engaged with local authorities, and satisfactory progress has been made. The White Paper points out that the problem differs materially from any confronting the country in the Great War.

"We have to carry through in a limited period measures which will make exceptionally heavy demands upon certain branches of industry and certain classes of skilled labour without impeding the course of normal trade," it states. "This will require the most careful organisation and willing cooperation of leaders of industry and of trade unions to provide satisfactorily for our needs both in peace and war."

The Government has decided to create a reserve source of supply which would be available in case of emergency. The method of procedure contemplated is to select a number of firms which do not normally make warlike stores, but which are suitable for the puiposo because of their experience and their possession of a skilled staff of engineers and workmen. Arrangements would he made with these firms for laying down the necessary plant and machinery for a given output of selected articles, and sufficient orders would be guaranteed in peace time to allow the requisite training in the work of production. The White Paper recalls the fundamental difference that grew up last summer between the League of Nations and Italy. This combined with the possibility of league action, led to a campaign* of violent and menacing propaganda in Italy largely directed against the United Kingdom as one of the foremost upholders of the League Covenant. The point was reached in August last when the possibility of an incident occurring which might precipitate an extension of the conflict could be no longer disregarded. The paper says it is true that an increase in the armed strength of other nations who will "O-operate for collective* security may increase the power of the league ; but an increase of armed strength might also prove an added power in the hands of a possible aggressor.—British Official Wireless.

"VERDICT AGAINST TREATIES." BERLIN NEWSPAPER COMMENT. BERLIN, March 3. The "Berliner Tageblatt" declares: "The White Paper'is a crushing verdict against the peace treaties which followed the Great War. It shows that Britain does not consider the League sufficiently strong to> protect the Empire. , . "It is a singular contradiction that Britain, with 2,000,000 unemployed, should lack recruits." WASHINGTON LITTLE CONGERNED. BRITAIN'S NEED REALISED. WASHINGTON, March 3. The publication of the White Paper caused little surprise a»id no concern in official circles to-day, though the reported impending large-scale armament programme has long been discounted. , The decision, by Britain to lay down two 35,000-to,*. battleships is expected to lead to similar action by the United States. Plans for such vessels have been completed by the Navy Department, but a request lor funds is deferred, until the adjournment of the Naval Conference in London. Britain's announcement of her cruiser programme caused no concern, as Britain, according to the figures available here, is still 28,000 tons below the limit in this category allowed by the London treaty. Although no officials made formal comment, there is considerable appreciation here of Britain's defence position, through her Empire's respon- j nihilities and the unsettled conditions of the world.