AIR FLEETS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3022, 8 March 1917, Page 6

AIR FLEETS

A NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON. , In conversation with a representative of The Dominion-, the Hon. Arthur Myers, president of the Overseas Club, referred to recent cablegrams bearing on the, work that our air fleets aro carrying out in the direction of win.niug the war. ' "It is a significant fact," said Mr. Myers, "that our machines are reported continually as performing important reconnaissance duties, but that few German aeroplanes are visible. Scarcely a day passes but news is received of aerial bombardments of railway and other centres beyond tho enemy's linos. To those wlio follow with interest the operations of the Royal Flying Corps, -it is gratifying to have so many evidences of the fact ihat the aeroplane is playing so vital a part in the present great struggle, not only in scouting and photographing on land and sea, but also in the actual work of engaging the enemy's forces in close conflict.

"New Zealand is well represented in the Plying Corps, having already presented five machines to the War Office, from the following centres: —Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, Dunedin, Otago, arid Auckland. In a communication just received from Mr. Evelyn Wrench, the hon. organiser in London of the ■ Overseas Club, it is pointed out that c were the various other large centres of the Dominion to co-operate with the object of presenting a further five machines to , the War Office, New Zealand would then have contributed a complete air. squadron of her own. : This New Zeahud unit would be maintained permanently as such by the Imperial authoritle?; tliafc is to say, should any or all of the actual machines presented be lost or destroyed, the War Office would replace same and so' keep the New Zealand squadron.intact.

"The different portions of our Kmpire are all playing' a worthy part 111 contributing to the strength of mr air forces. Australia lias presented to the War Office three complete aerial squadrons; Canada and South Africa have each sent Home several machines; Malaya has given 45 aircraft; India some 70 or 80 aeroplanes: whilst Newfoundland, the Gold Coast, BJioflesia, Ccyloir , , Hong Kong, and many other outposts of Empire have each provided a number of fighting 1 aeroplanes in the common cause. "The Overseas Club, to date, tias presented 87 machines to the Imperial Aircraft Flotilla, whilst the sister organisation of the Patriotic Leasue of Britons Overseas has also given 30 aircraft to the Admiralty.

"The importance of maintainino; the Imperial ' :iir fleets- ah innsimnin 'strength; both during and after'the present war, cannot be,o"vorestimated."