READIEST MEANS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 129, 2 June 1936, Page 9

READIEST MEANS

DOMINIONS' DEFENCE AEROPLANE COMMENDED UNEQUALLED MOBILITY United Tress Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, June 1.

Discussing the Dominions and dafence, the "Manchester Guardian" reviews the position in.the Pacific and Mediterranean, and expresses the opinion that had League action defeated Signor Mussolini, with the formal help of the Soviet and the informal help of the United States, it would have thought there was at least a possibility that the League, again aided by the United States, might affect the course of events in the Far East, but of that there is now no sign. A section of the British Cabinet desires a settlement with Signor Mussolini and the return of the British Fleet from the Mediterranean. If that were done the anxieties of the Dominions would not be lessened, for the fleet would be in the North Sea. Thus, for 1 the Dominions, the League offers no shelter if Signor Mussolini wins, for the British Fleet would be immobilised in Europe. I The United States, which is building a great fleet, is still an observer, and the Dominions are left wondering whether Japan or Italy will yet take wings, which, a Chinese proverb says, should not be given to tigers. Hence the lively discussion in Australia and Canada about defence. The "Guardian" concludes that the aeroplane, with its unequalled mobility, is the readiest means whereby, if the worst happened, different parts of the British Commonwealth could come to each other's aid. PACIFIC "AND EAST THE FURTHER DOMINIONS STRONGER AIR FORCES In his latest book upon developments in air defence Brigadier-General P. R. C. Groves has strongly emphasised the need of strengthened air forces in the Pacific Dominions. Great Britain cannot afford a Navy strong enough to be predominant both in the Atlantic and in the Pacific (he wrote). The only course open to her is to supplement her naval strength in the Pacific by increasing her fleet air arm, by strengthening her Air Force in India and Singapore, and by calling upon Australia and New Zealand to create properly organised Air Forces. The defensive systems of both those dependencies bear the mark of British naval and military advice, for both are concentrated on defence by land and sea and have neglected that by air. Australia has created an extensive commercial air route system which practically encircles the sub-continent, and would facilitate the concentration of air force at any threatened point on her seaboard, but her Air Force has been developed mainly as an auxiliary to co-operate with her two other forces and does not at present include a single torpedo-bomber; and yet a few hundred of such craft could ensure the Commonwealth against invasion, for, if duly warned by a properly organised system of long-distance reconnaissance by air and sea they could attack an enemy's transports while they were still several hundred miles from the Australian coast.

(Since the publication of BrigadierGeneral Groves's book Australia has decided upon three squadrons of bomber and fighting aeroplanes to act as first-striking forces.) And even should the enemy avoid detection and make a landing, his base, together with the shipping serving it, could be rendered useless, if not destroyed entirely, from the air. These remarks apply equally to New Zealand, he adds.

CARDINAL AIM IN EMPIRE DEFENCE. Our cardinal aim in Imperial defence in the eastern hemisphere should be to organise a system whereby any dependency on the great "horse-shoe," of which South Africa and New Zealand are the points, and the Middle East and India the arch, could be reinforced by squadrons stationed in the other dependencies. The principle was well illustrated in 1929, when, owing to the civil war in Afghanistan, it was decided to exacuate the European colony in Kabul by air. The machines which performed the greater part of the relief work were sent from Irak, 2500 miles away, and covered the distance to the Indian frontier in three days.

Indeed, owing to its speed, mobility, and economy, the air arm is the ideal instrument,for Imperial defence. The great services which it has already rendered in that sphere merely touches the fringe of future possibilities.