AIRCRAFT IN WAR

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 130, 26 February 1925, Page 9

AIRCRAFT IN WAR

l AMERICA’S STIFLED INQUIRY COMMITTEE DECIDES TO REOPEN HEARINGS OWING TO PUBLIC CLAMOUR Owing to the public clamour against its decision to cease its activities, the United States Aircraft Committee has decided to reopen its hearings. By Telegraph—Press Association Copybight. (Rec. February 25, 9.35 p.m.) Washington, February 24. The House of Representatives Aircraft Committee has decided to reopen its hearings. This is due to the public clamour against the sudden decision to cease its activities. The official explanation that the committee stopped work owing to lack of funds is disproved, as it is now discovered that 2500 dollars are still available. Moreover members of the committee and others offered to defray further expenses personally; It; is expected that Mr. J. W. Weeks, the Secretary of War, will be called shortly to give evidence.

In the meantime Mr. C. D. Wilbur, Secretary of the Navy, addressing a women’s conference on national defence, declared that even if the defensive power of aircraft extends 200 miles from the Coast, the navy still will be the only protection beyond that point. He asserted that the navy is strengthening and building up the aviation, branch, adding: “If bombing ’planes can sink battleships, we want bombing ’planes. We not otjlv want them, we have and are getting them.” —Sydney “Sun” Cable.' t

[The investigation of the United States Aircraft Committee threatened to be- .. come a grave scandal, and widespread astonishment was created by the sudden stifling of the inquiry. Pressure from Parliamentary leaders and heads of De‘partments was stated to have been exerted to stop the hearings. At. the last hearing General Mitchell gave sensational evidence regarding the so-callfed bombing of the Washington, declaring the tests to have been a farce.] STRENGTH OF BRITISH AIR .• FORCE STATEMENT BY MINISTER (Rec. February 25, 5.5 p.m.) London; February 24. In the House of Commons, in reply to a question, Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for Air, said the normal strength of the 18 air squadrons at present formed for home defence was 12 machines each, and nine of the 18 were bombing squadrons. It would not be in the public interest to publish details of the effective range of operations of the latest type of bombing aeroplanes used in the Royal Air Force, nor to give information as to whether the Air Force had a stock of any other type of bomb beside the high explosive type.—Reuter.