STRENGTHENING THE AIR FORCE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 74, 20 December 1933, Page 11

STRENGTHENING THE AIR FORCE

Four New Squadrons

FORECAST OF ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright (Received December 19, 8.55 p.m.) London, December 18. The aviation correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the Royal Air Force estimates for 1934 will provide for four new squadrons, consisting of about sixty machines, mostly fighters. It is expected that Lord Londonderry, Minister for Air, in presenting the estimates, will also foreshadow an early increase in the Auxiliary lit Force. The increase ot only four regular squadrons in one year is disappointing, but the Government does not regard the situation serious enough to call for a greater increase. BOMBING CRAFT No Increase in Europe (British Official Wireless.) (Received December 19, 7 p.m.) Rugby, December - 18. Replying to a question in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary, Captain Anthony Eden, said that so far as he was aware it was not a fact that in most countries in Europe the strength of aircraft specifically designed for bombing was being increased. He understood that all types of aircraft might be to some extent used for bombing. It was to meet this difficulty that articles 34 and 35 of the British draft convention were designed. The proposals contained in those articles continued to represent the policy of th<» British Government In their view the whole problem of disarmament was vitally urgent, and every effort was being made to achieve general agreement covering all aspects of the problem.