AUSTRALIAN AIR BASE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1923, Page 16

AUSTRALIAN AIR BASE

A BIIILITABY MAN'S OPINION.

Tha Inspector-General of the Commons ealth Military Forces (Major-Gen-eral 8 ir Harry Ch'auvel) giving evidence befor< i the Federal Public Works Committee ...recently on the question of establish -ing an air force base at Laverton (j; eports the Melbourne "Argus"), aaid 't i base depot was essential to Austraj lia's future defence programme, and should ba established immediately. It sho^ ild not be regarded as a fighting base, li ut as a depot for the training of airmen;, for the storing of supplies, and for w« .rk-shop's. Fighting bases could be esta biished at strategic points-, around Austraj !ia. Laverton, having suitable landing ; grounds, and being on the railway rb id near an industrial centre, was a suitable site. ■ The air force had become 9 n essential arm of defence, and the Fa leral Ministry would be justified in e^pj sditing its development. For war -pi-iipsses; '21 Equadrons, with 18 machinj es to a squadron, would: "b.e.necessaryj, but to put the force on a peace footing] four squadrons, comprising 48 machini is, would be a satisfactory nucleus. I In addition to establishing a base an -d;" sub-bases, the Ministry should fit card iers to naval vessels, as the air force 'puld, to a large extent, co-op-erate ■« ith the navy. .. In. time of war the Heel ; would require at least 15 squadrons^ : If such a contingency arose air-, men ecu ild be recruited from civil aviation ser vices. ■

WhiM . he favoured the utilisation of militars aeroplaniss and pilots for odd commei^ cial jobs, Sir Harry, Chauvel said ths ;t he was opposed to using them for. can jiig. out mail contracts^ Such work, -rtould be routine, and of -little use ..to i airmen so far as- war training was con xerned'. The Ministry 'should continue and extend the subsidies granted to cii >;il aviatfon, but not to the detriment of » defence-air force. As-Lav-erton .v» buld be a permanent base, it would: 1 >c unwise- to construct wooden ,bomeß { or: airmen. Brick dwellings would be more durable. ■ ' ■ ;.