THE OVERHEAD FOE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2218, 3 August 1914, Page 8

THE OVERHEAD FOE

AIRCRAFT OP THE POWERS SKY FLEETS COMPARED It is.safe to say that no:reliable estimate whioh could be supported by official figures could be given which would set .out accurately the relative strengths of tho air-fleets of the Great Powers. The efficacy of" these fleets will now he' thoroughly tested, but their war-establishment cannot oven be approximated, because, allowance . must be made for , a large contribution from volunteer airmen ~to .the strength of their respective countries,. The following table ■ sots 0ut.,., the . ascertainable. approximate—-of the Great Powers up to the end of 1913, biit a:ccelerated construction since then has been very, marked Mil' the esse of Germany, Russia, France, and Great Britain, while'the business of organis-. ing these .fleets on .a military footing has been developed in a great measure within a comparatively recent period:— triple Entente. ■ Aeroplanes. . .1 and Seaplanes Airships Great Britain ... 130 5 ! •France. 760 21 Russia ; 380 8 1 Total 1,260 34 . •France had also at 1 that stage a call on four-mother aeroplanes. Triple. Alliance. , , Aeroplanes. and : ■ ■ .Seaplanes-. Airships .•Germany. ......... 350 21 Austria 150 . 6 : : Italy ' . 200 • 5 Total' ....... 700 32 •Germany.: also then had a call on an additional 4001 i . i. : , i The condition of Great Britain, in point of numbers, has' teen very largely improved, aiid it has also to bo noted that that nation's fleet includes only" the strictly official aircraft. A call for volunteers would no doubt effect a substantial chango in the comparative tables. British development in seaplanes has been greatly . accelerated within recent months,-.and in this department of flying the Admiralty is stated to be in_a very efficient state, and ahead •of rival Powers. _ .Referring' to Mr. Churchill's latest Navy Estimates, the "Morning- Post" obmplimerited the First' Lord of this Admiralty oil "the further proof of redeeming his pledges to provide Britain with an efficient: air service, though in both cases the rato of expanse'is hampered by the negligence or lack of enterprise of previous Ministers in charge of tho Admiralty and War Office. Wo are 'therefore still in tho position only of starting .to ;match the airship equipments of Ffan'ce and Germany; for today- in'.tiiiß particular we are actually no betterj if is well, off as Italy. .Hap-, pily, however, we have a, lead. in seaplane experience, and, with our excellent' personnel. and clever constructors, we hare. e7.ery of "maintaining it',": '; : ,'

IN THE CHURCHES

• Special services ivero'held in the Jewish Synagogue ja Wellington on Saturday morning, when prayers \vero'offered' up for a peaceful settlement of tlio l'juicpeau war cvisis. Prayers for' peace wore also offered in churches of various dciuouiiaatioiis in