AIR-RAID DEFENCES

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 37, 14 February 1916, Page 7

AIR-RAID DEFENCES

BRITAIN'S POLICY MUCH

DISCUSSED

ADVOCACY OF AIR-RAIDS.

LONDON, 11th February There is a growing demand to ensure security against air-raids. Meetings of protest against the defencelessness •of Britain and the lack of warnings have been held in . the Midlands and elsewhere, and measures have been considered to ensure, greater protection. The Daily Mail, in. a leader, contends that it is unfair to himself and the country lo ask Lord French to supervise the air defences of London.

An important conference on air defences has been held at.the Admiralty. It. is generally believed that tho Government is considering -tlm appoint ment of an Air Minister, and it is expected .that, a Ministerial announcement, in reply to numerous notices of questions will bo made when Parliament reassembles. It is also suggested that there should be. an \h Director; whose functions

should be limited to the provision of aircraft and. the supervision of actual operations.

Tlie names mentioned for the new Ministership are Lord Sydenham, Lord Derby, Lord Curzon, and Lord Selborne.

The Daily Mail publishes articles by experts on the subject. Some suggest the construction of a large fleet of aeroplanes; others recommend that Britain should build Zeppelins. Mr. Grey, editor of The Aeroplane, urges retaliatory raids, even to Berlin. He says: "There havo been considerable developments in our aeroplane engines. At the beginning of the war our machines were able to climb to 10,000 feet, when they could only stagger along at 40 miles an hour. We have still much to learn from Germany's specialised aeroplanes, but with our latest models it is possible to roach Berlin from tho sea, provided such raids are properly organised and carried out by specially designed aeroplanes."' The Liverpool City Council is considering, means to insure,its public buildings against aircraft raids, the total to extend to three millions sterling. •