DEFENCE PLANS OF BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 18

DEFENCE PLANS OF BRITAIN

IMPERIAL STRATEGY DISCUSSED “TRADITIONAL POLICY MAINTAINED” MINISTER’S STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF LORDS (CKITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 16, 9 p.m.) LONDON. March 16.

“The way to stop air warfare is to destroy the enemy air fleet. The principles of strategy are immutable.” declared Lord Chatfield in his first speech in the House of Lords as Minister for Co-ordination of Defence. His speech was a reply to Lord Trenchard’s request for assurances that Britain had not abandoned its traditional policy of coun-ter-attack.

Lord Chatfield proceeded: “The term defence does not mean that we have no intention to provide a means of striking back if attacked. The whole Empire would collapse if the heart of the Empire ever stopped beating.

“Productive activities in Britain and the inflow of raw materials must not be interrupted. Defences must be maintained at the highest efficiency.

“But this is only a part of sound air strategy. A counter-offensive force is essential” ' It was the Government’s fixed intention to build up such a force as might in conjunction with fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft batteries deter an aggressor from attacking or give all the necessary means for both attack and defence. A British Official Wireless message amplifying Lord Chatfield’s speech says that he argued that the country’s system of Imperial strategy must be founded upon secure bases for its armed forces and, particularly. the Navy, and the most important base was the United Kingdom itself—the very heart of the Empire. Defence From Air Attack Discussing defence against air attack he assured Lord Trenchard that there had been no reversal of policy and that it was fully appreciated that the safest means of defence in the air was to destroy the air fleets of the enemy. The latest bomber supplied to the Royal ’Air Force was believed to be the. best in the world. Plans for air defence were kept under constant revision.

Lord Chatfield added that the three defence services were working in active collaboration for the defence of the country’s merchant shipping. He was satisfied that all the necessary steps were being taken to make the country’s oil supplies adequate and reasonably safe from attack. He was not in favour of a Ministry of Supply in peace time, but he stated that all plans for its rapid establishment in war were ready. Lord Chatfield, concluding, emphasised that the real spirit behind the country’s rearmament was that it might become strong for peace.