GIGANTIC STRIDES

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 108, 3 November 1926, Page 7

GIGANTIC STRIDES

GERMANY IN THE AIR

MILITARY SIGNIFICANCE.

LONDON, Ist November.

How Germany has made gigantic strides in commercial aviation, until the whole of Northern and Eastern Europe is virtually monopolised by German machines under a single State-controll-ed organisation, is revealed by Briga-dier-General Percy Groves in the M Daily Express. General Groves emphasises that the German aircraft industry is flourishing because, in addition to supplying the Europa. Union, machines are flying in Holland, Sweden, Russia, Austria, Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentine. The tentacles of German air transport are reaching out from Moscow, Kabul, and Vladivostok, to Pekin. MONEY AND PROPAGANDA. The driving force behind this colossal expansion is money and propaganda. During the year 1925-26 tho Government subsidy amounted to a.quarter of a million sterling. German aviation is supported by direct and indirect grants from States, cities, and towns, many of which have presented aerodromes. Banks and oil and shipping interests all contribute. Tho whole of the aviation scheme is administered by tho Ministry of Transport, and in addition there is a Supreme Council, supervising aerial organisations, such as flying clubs, flying schools, and air leagues. The council's composition indicates-that both commercial and civil aviation aro to be fostered as fully as possible, and it has a military significance also, becauso the War Office and Army Commands are directly represented. The activities include the organisation and use of Press, platform, poster, cinema, and other channels for propaganda. Brigadier-General Groves was formerly air adviser to tho British Ambassador, Paris, for Peace Treaties, and British Air Representative on the Permanent Advisory Commission to the League of Nations.