AIR DEFENCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 9

AIR DEFENCES

THE BRITISH SCHEME REORGANISATION PLANS IMPORTANT CHANGES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 28. Important changes in Britain's antiaircraft defence organisation, including the doubling of the Territorial antiaircraft personnel, were announced in the House of Commons today by the Minister of War, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha. "In 1935 the entire responsibility for anti-aircraft defence at home was vested in the Territorial Army," he said. "At that time the actual strength of air defence formations in the Territorial Array was under 2000, all ranks. ' On January 1, 1936, the first anti-air-craft division was formed. Its strength at the beginning of 1936 was 5200, all ranks. By the beginning of January, 1937,.the second anti-aircraft division was formed, its strength being just under 7000. By the present month of this year the total strength of the two divisions has risen to 43,000, and it is now proposed to more than double this figure." CHANGES DETAILED. The existing Territorial anti-aircraft units, with the addition of others about to be created, will be formed into five divisions instead of two. These five divisions will be under a corps commander with the rank of lieutenantgeneral, who will be responsible for the training. He will be responsible to the air officer commanding the fighter command for operations. At the War Office an officer with the status of Deputy-Chief of the Imperial General' Staff and with the rank of lieutenant-general, to -be designated Deputy-Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Anti-Aircraft Defence, will be appointed. He will be responsible for anti-aircraft defence through the Chief of the Imperial General Staff to the Secretary of State, and he will devote his whole time to this important service. . „ „ T An Under-Deputy-Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Anti-Aircraft Defence, to be the new director of antiaircraft training and organisation with the rank of major-general, will also be appointed; ATTENTION TO ALL DETAIL. The purpose of this reorganisation, said the Minister, is to ensure that undivided attention may be given to every aspect of detail of anti-aircraft defence. Replying to a question, Mr. HoreBelfsha indicated that he expected no difficulty in obtaining the necessary additional recruits, who would be furnished with appropriate equipment. The rate of production of guns at present, he observed, was "quite remarkab Qne result of the changes announced by Mr. Hore-Belisha is that the Air Officer Commandirig-in-Chief, Fighter Command, will be in operational control of all measures of defence against attack by aircraft.

AUSTRALIAN PERSONNEL

PRAISED

, , SYDNEY, June 29. j ' In an interview given to the "Sun" today, the Marshal of the Royal Air .Force, Sir Edward Ellington, who is on a special mission to Australia to adIvise on air defences, said that no Power could make a serious air attack on Australia. Any Power desirous of Ipnnphing an air attack would have to establish very efficient lines of communication. Seaborne aircraft would be the only means of attempting such a raid by any nation other than Holland, and even this method could not be effective under present conditions. Sir Edward praised Australia's Air Force personnel.