WORLD'S BEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 182, 4 August 1939, Page 8

WORLD'S BEST.

BRITISH WAR 'PLANES.

SPEED AND EFFICIENCY,

AUSTRALIAN EXPERT HERE. "English military aeroplanes are the best in the world in efficiency," said Sir Keith Smith, Australian aviator and representative of Vickers, Limited, on his arrival at Auckland to-day by the Monterey, en route from San Francisco to Sydney. "The amazing development in speed and efficiency in the air in the last 20 years is a great tribute to the men behind the scenes." he declared. Looking back, he considered that a big improvement would have been made in the 'planes of the early post-war years by the mere addition of wheel brakes.

Australia was being prepared as a major source of supply of munitions to Britain in the event of war. added Sir Keith. Having visited Europe, he was impressed with the critical state of international relations, but Britain was quietly confident that she could handle whatever situation arose. It was realised that if Germany struck first targets would be British and French cities, and the German squadrons would be so broken up that the air war would soon become a stalemate. The decision wduld then rest with the British Fleet and the French Arrnv.