BRITAIN'S INCREASING AIR DEFENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 65, 16 March 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN'S INCREASING AIR DEFENCES.

HANDICAPPED BY LACK OF HIGH-POWERED ENGINES.

GREAT NUMBER OF PILOTS IN TRAINING.

GOVERNMENT KEEPING THE DERBY PLEDGE.

T . . , . LONDON, March 15. In introducing the Army Estimates in the House of Commons to-day Mr H. J. Tennant < Under-Secretary for War) made a detailed statement regarding Britain's system of air defence. ' g Mr Tennant said that the scale of defences agreed upon for London would be appHod to the whole country. Britain was always handicapped compared with (.ermany and France owing to her lack of engine, • but high-powered engines of Bntislvmanufaeture were now coming fonvard and would produce a marked .mprovement. He Said the provision of aeroplanes was ahead of the supply of engines and P il6ts. - Britain was now training monthly as many pilots as she mobilised at the commencement of the war, and-even this number would be largely increased in the near future. The War Office had concentrated the teach.ng of pilots, and was now reaping its reward. A school for antiaeroplane gun tnuning had been opened at Sheernces. Landing places with lights had been provided for aeroplanes flying at night time. PRAISE TOR THE ARMY SERVICE DEPARTMENT. Mr. Tennant read the following message from Sir Douglas. Haig— "Our requirements in food, forage, clothing, equipment, and transport have been met from the outset with unfailing regularity, while the quality and quantity of supplies leave nothing to be desired. The forces have increased from two corps to a large army, but the provision for the Army's well being, cither in sickness or in health, continues to be all that could be wished for. As a result of the strenuous labours devoted to increasing and maintaining the Army, all arc in good health and good heart, and confident of victory." WAR OFFICE CONSERVING ITS SUPPLIES OF MEN. Mr. Tennant added that this was a war of attrition, especially of attrition in men. Tho War Office was trying to conserve its men as much as possible. A great number Lad enrolled in the four days of t!.p final wave of enthusiasm evoked by the Karl of Derby's scheme. The Government vras taking energetic stops to carry out its pledge that unmarried men should go to the colours before married men. and was revising the lists of reserved occupations. He hoped to reduce the minimum of single men of military age and physique whom it was necessary to keep at home. The Government was very much alive to the importance of the question, and was not going to let the married men down. Instead of granting commissions first and then training officers, the War Office was'now selecting men from tho ranks and transferring them for four months' training. If efficient they -.vorc then given commissions. Mr. Pemberton-Billing. the new member for East Herts, advocated an aggressive ;iir policy. Mr. Ba'.four, he said, should order all existing material to bo employed ir. raiding the enemy's country. By this moans Briton would exterminate Zeppelins. The debate was adjourned. In view of the rather numerous recent losses of British aeroplanes in Flanders, a question was put to Mr. Tennant in the House of Commons in January as to the relative efficiency of the British machines and tho new German Fokkcr aeroplanes. In his reply the Minister emphasised the defensive nature of the German methods of aerial warfare on the western front. It was, he said, for this kind of fighting only that the Fokkcr aeroplane is suitable, and he admitted its merits from this point of view. It was, however, incapable of prolonged flights from its own lines, and if it attempted to fly over our lines we had machines quite equal in efficiency and speed to the Fokker. With regard to the air campaign on the western front in the last four weeks, Mr. Tennant gave the following particulars, adding that practically all the fighting had taken place over or behind the lines of the enemy.British machines lost 13 Enemy machines brought down 9 Enemy machines probably brought down.. 2 British bombing raids t> Knemy bombing raids „. .. "13 British machines used ■„. ~ ]3g Knemy machines used (about) 20 Machines flown across enemy lines 1,227 Enemy machines flown across our lines (estimated) .. 310 Mr. Tennant explained that hostile machines were reported as Being "brought down" or "driven down" when they had been seen to fall to the ground uncontrolled, but our officers were scrupulously careful in their reports, and many enemy casualties were probably not reported owing to the uncertainty as to actual facts. - <= ■