AIR POWER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 21

AIR POWER

STRENGTH OF NATIONS

PREPONDERANCE OF FRANCE

AUSTRALIA HAS SEVENTY

MACHINES.

Before attempting a brief review of the air strength of the nations it is necessary to disclaim any pretence to abso< late accuracy, states Major 0. 0. Turner in the "Daily Telegraph." It is diffi; cult;to obtain the latest figures, and it will be. readily understood that at this early stage the important factor of efficiency is hard to estimate. The importance of air power in relation to sea and land power is another subject altogether, but it may be suggested that even the great preponderance of France is not at the moment so decisive a factor as was the naval power of .Great Britain before the war. What is air power? No more than sea power can it consolidate victory. It can only clear the way, but by clearing the way for the unhampered, operations of fleets and armies it may ensure victory or avert defeat. But what strength in the air is necessary to, secure absolute supremacy? Without considering the question whether aircraft can or cannot destroy battleships, can they, if employed in large numbers round the coasts of an enemy, paralyse his mercantile marine and prevent supplies getting through? That is an urgent question for Britain.

It is a. disquieting fact that the agreed reduction of naval armaments synchronises with the rapid development of a new arm not yet subject to Treaty limitation, comparatively easy of increase, possibly lending itself more than fleet and armies to secret expansion, and at this moment unquestionably being developed with great activity. The only limitation agreed upon is in respect of aircraft carriers, Great Britain and the United States being limited to five each (none to exceed 25,000 tons), France and Japan to three each, and Italy to two. Germany, Austria, and Turkey are prevented, under the Peace Treaty, from possessing ("military aircraft.

Air, power consists not merely of the possession of a striking force. .Reserves of machines and men and manufacturing resources must be taken into ac-* count. The existence of manufacturing resources, is indicated in the following list. Civil aviation is important, not that the machines would have any value in fighting, but because machines and pilots would be available for training and for communications, and because civil aviation helps to maintain the industry. BRITAIN AND EUROPE. Great Britain.—Present strength, 32 squadrons, many of which are serving abroad. The 32 squadrons include the units, working with the Navy. Fifteen squadrons are to be added, seven of them this year; and three more squadrons are to be added for naval work. The frontline strength of a British squadron is 12 machines. Anti-aircraft artillery defence is being organsed under the-Terri-torial Army scheme. Some of the Dominions have Air Services. , Australia recently had about 70 machines. Canada has an Air Force with probably, about 100 machines, these includiiig training aeroplanes. South Africa has, I two squadrons 1. .Aeroplane construction' on a minor scale is undertaken in Australia and Canada, The.necessity of considering defence in full co-operation with the. Dominions • has often been urged. •■-%.•;'-;■ : I:,r-•.■."■;■;■ '■■•' I trance.— Stated in' Parliament to be 128 squadrons,, each of (average) nine machines. Thighs believed to be an un-der-estimate. The present writer was informed on high official authority in Paris that there are 140 squadrons, of an average of 10 machines, and that in the coming year the number will be increased tq 220 squadrons. Re-equipment is pro, ceedrag rapidly. Since 1919 2400 French pilots have been trained; and outside active service squadrons, by the end of 1924 there will net be.: less than 100Q good_ pilots; ready, and. a further 100Q needing only a'"refresher" course. There is a war reserve of about 4800 aeroplanes, with .transport; supplies', and aux. iliary services. Last year :-3?QO machines were built in France, and of these only 300 were for ■ civil use and export. Every inducement is offered to reserve, pilots to keep up training. Near the large _ cities there are aerodromes and machines available for them, and they are provided with free 'transport to and fro. Civil flying is on a large scale, and French air lines extending throughout Europe. The industry is large and flourishing. Italy.—About 250 aeroplanes and 4000 aero engines. .The new programme provides_ for 750 new aeroplanes. A few air lines ;\ : but the manufacturing industry is important, and has in the past bejn successful in the designing of land and sea types and aero engines. Russia.—Many_ rumours that are obvious exaggerations are in circulation. Before the war the Russian air service was inefficient. 1 The high technical and administrative and organisation standards' necessary for the successful development of aeronautics are wanting, and it is hardly likely that in present circumstances theße have been reached; Probably there is some little foundation for rumours that military aviation is receiving attention, and it is certain that German experts are helping.

THE LESSER POWERS, Germany.—Not permitted to manufacture war aircraft, and is restricted as 10 the size and power of commercial machines. There are many factories where production could be resumed. Important research is in progress. German aircraft makers have established themselves in Denmark, Italy, and Russia. Belgium.—Fourteen squadrons,, of an average strength of ten machines.*.- No | borne industry. The Belgian air force. ! should be reckoned with, because it has bad war experience. There' are air services in the African colonies. ; Of the. other. European countries, Spain has two military centres in Spain and : two in Morocco, and has been a good customer of French and British manufic turers. About 120 aeroplanes are now on order from France, England, and Holland. The. industry is unimportant. Holland has a small air force, but an important aircraft industry and air-iine ac tivities. In her East Indian possessions ihre are two groups, each of three squadrons of six. Poland has a small and unimportant air service manned by Polish, British, French, and European pilots, and equipped with British and French machines. Czeoho-Slovakia has a small air. force, and a small and unimportant induatry. Denmark: Both naval, and military flying, and machines are built by the Danish naval constructors. Norway: A nucleus only. Has bought machines from England and has an aeroplane factory: Sweden shows considerable enterprise on military and civil sides. Gothenburg has one of the finest aerodromes in Europe, available for both land and sea machines, and destined to be an air traffic centre. Rumania has recently ordered sixty machines from England, and is also building at the national aircraft factory. Equipment is French, British, and German. In Bui-, | ga'ria, military aircraft forbidden under

the Peace Treaty, but has a few commercial craft. Portugal employs British and French machines for both navy and army. Military .aircraft in Hungary is also forbidden, but has, commercial aircraft and a small'industry. :

Turkey.—A squadron was recently em- j ployed against: Greece. . ;;•; Greece.—Both naval and military. The foundations were laid by a British naval j commission before the wai 1. Machines j are obtained from England, France, and j Italy. Has about 100 pilot officers. ■ Switzerland, Latvia, and Esthonio. have small services. AMERICA. AND. ASIA.. j United States.—Enlisted strength, 1061 officers and 8764 men. Small unite are in the Philippines, Hawaii, and Panama. A thome there are three groups, besides an observation squadron in each army corps area. There is no effective reserve, but the post office maintain air lines, and the industry is larpre and enterprising. Two aircraft carriers. Turning to other American countries, Mexico, the .first country to employ aeroplanes in war, has: a small air service and an unimporta&t industry. German influence is evident. The Argentine has about 100 machines, including school machines. The Post Qffica co-operates for mail-carrying. German influence, apparent, Brazil is supplied chiefly by Italy and Spain, but the army service is under \ a French mission. In Peru both naval and military using French and United States machines. Cuba, Bolivia, Ecus- j dor, Colombia, Chili, and Venezuela buy a few machines from Europe. Japan.—The army side of aviation hfis been in French hands, and the naval aide largely under i British influence. The. programme provides for 156 more aeroplanes and four airshipe. One aircraft I carrier, but with more in prospect. Papar strength of twelve squadrons. A-! small industry for aeraplanes and engines. China.—A number of machines supplied by England and France, but recently a halt was called for lack of means. Industry unimportant. Siamsent pilots and mechanics to France for training during the war. Considerable at- | tention is given to flying, and there are j four aerodromes and , many landing' grounds. Little mention has been made of airvhips. because no Power has a fleet of these craft, and the United States is the only country seriously working in this direction.' There is intended a service between -Spain and South America, but the project seems to suffer from procrastination. It is suggested that Great Britain would need small airships for submarine patrols, ' these having proved thejr value in war. This, how- ' ever, would depend upon the "nature of the enemy, air forces. In distant parts of the world, whsi'e «xtended naval reconnaissance would be desired, and where little aerial-opposition wag'to be expected, Ehere might b 6 scope for big airships, as, foe example, in, the Pacific and the base at Singapore. Owing to tne time it would take to build airships, however, the cu'estion of the steady advance iii the. flying-boat must T« considered in this connection.