RECRUITING STARTS FOR AIR FORCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 121, 24 May 1935, Page 7

RECRUITING STARTS FOR AIR FORCE.

TERMS OF SERVICE.

Britain Needs 22,500 Men

For Training.

"TREMENDOUS UNDERTAKING."

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, May 23. The Royal Air Force, acting on the Government's declaration regarding tho new air defence policy, took the first steps to-day towards increasing their personnel. They issued full details of pay and service conditions offered in respect of the additional men required. These number 2500 men, to be trained as pilots, and 20,000 artisans and unskilled men. This is in accordance with the Government's intention to have a home defence force of 1500 iirst line machines by 1937. In regard to recruitment measures, the Air Minister, the Marquess of Londonderry, stated that "the pronouncement of the Government clearly lias been welcome to the nation. It does not reflect a policy of competition with other countries, nor a race in armaments. We welcome Herr Hitler's offer of limitation, but at the same time we are carrying out our declared policy not to accept inferiority to our neighbours'in the air. The task of expansion is a tremendous undertaking, and we need tho full support and good will of the country." Until the new service aerodromes are established, civil aerodromes will be used for training pilots and mechanics. LORDS DEBATE. SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT. LOXDOX, May 23. In the House of Lords during a debate on Imperial defence the chief emphasis was laid on the expansion of air forces, as in the debate in the House of Commons. The Secretary of State for Air, the Marquess of Londonderry, in the course of a statement similar to that made by Mr. Baldwin revealed the fact that the Air Ministry had let contracts for delivery in February, 1930, of a new type of heavy bomber, which it believed would be an advance on any now in the service of foreign air forces. The Royal Air Force was undertaking a task such as no fighting service had faced in modern days, namely, that of doubling its fighting strength within two years. Lord Londonderry appealed to young men to enrol freely, as soon as the requirements were published, in the aircraft industry, to show the world that the British artisan, engineer and business man were as capable as in the past of rising to the occasion. Lord Ponsonbv, speaking for Labour, said the Government had completely ignored Herr Hitler's speech. It was against Germany that the country was being inflamed, just at the moment when there seemed to be a chance of reaching an agreement. The purpose of the trebled Air Force was not defence, but to attack a so-called enemy. Labour's policy would be to call a conference to test the sincerity of Herr Hitler's proposals. If they were bluff, then call that bluff. The Government had lost a great opportunity. The Marquess of Lothian said the Liberals would support the Government's policy, which they did not regard as a challenge to Germany. Herr Hitler's speech gave high hopes. It would serve as a basis for the discussion of outstanding problems. Viscount Halifax, in replying, said there was no antagonism between reasonable provision for defence and tho active and steady pursuit of peace. If an arms limitation agreement could bo attained it would be open to both Britain and Germany to pause.

FAVOURABLE COMMENT. "SPARK OF HOPE'' TO GERMANY LONDON, May 23. The newspapers, practically without exception, approve Mr. Baldwin's speech and his measures for air expansion. The latter include, besides the increase in aircraft, five new Royal Air 1 orce training schools, a substantial increase in civilian training schools, 2500 more pilots, 20,000 men of other ranks, 31 new stations, in addition to the 18 in the existing programme. "The Times" says Mr. Baldwin's spcech has created a profound impression. Naturally he did not countenance the absurd criticism already heard in Paris that Herr Hitler's proposals were too vague to be of value. There is a basis at last for the practical work of settlement. ihc fiist step to take is surely to negotiate an Air Locarno. Herr Hitler has recommitted his Government to this project, to which every signatory of Locarno lias declared itself favourable. J. he prospect of war, which was never very imminent, now has definitely receded, adds "The Times."

A message from Berlin states that the "Allgemeine Zeitung" describes Mr. Baldwin's speech as "a spark of hope at the eleventh hour." It says he has discovered the silver lining to Herr Hitler's speech, and believes again in the possibility of sparing humanity from terrible "self-destruction.