AIR DEFENCES

Evening Star, Issue 22559, 29 January 1937, Page 9

AIR DEFENCES

AHEAD OF EXPANSION SCHEDULE REFERENCES TO GERMANY DEPRECATED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 27. “ Stop this rubbish that only a farmers’ policy can save the country and stop war,” shouted a man from the public gallery of the House of Commons at the opening of tho debate on air defences. Sir Thomas Inskip said lie rcregretted the various speakers’ references to Germany, “ towards whom we have nothing but the friendliest and most peaceable intentions. Experience has shown how laborious must the process of building up air defences to casacity after a long, leisurely period of production. Nevertheless, we arc a long way ahead of schedule.” There would have been no difficulty in forming squadrons if the Government had taken the easier path of ordering old instead of new types of machines, said Sir Thomas. It was anticipated that 100 squadrons would be formed by the end of March. The rate of progress would be accentuated as the months passed. The position with regard to “ shadow factories ” was that they would begin the production of air frames in the Austin factory in the autumn and of engines in January, 1935. The erection of other factories was reaching an advanced stage. Provision had been made for the air defence of London, including a balloon barrage. BIG PROGRAMME IN HAND 100 SQUADRONS IN MARCH (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 28. (Received January 29, at 1 p.m.) Sir Thomas Inskip gave the House of Commons an outline of the progress so far made with Britain’s rearmament programme. In relation to the air defence, he recalled that in the years from 1930 to 1934 the average number of air frames and engines was round about 700 or 750 for the whole year for the Royal Air Force. These numbers were only a fraction of what was required in the annual output under the present programme. The present position was that 87 squadrons had now been formed, 13 of which were still on the one flight basis. It was anticipated that 100 squadrons would be formed by the end of March, of which 22 would be on the one flight basis. If their expectations were fulfilled a further 24 squadrons would be completed by July. He estimated that there had been a lag .of .three or four months on the original schedule, but the line of production was on a slowly rising scale, and would become steeper as tho months went by. He explained the technical difficulties of getting such a large programme under production, and expressed the view that as the problems were solved the programme would be fully attained and maintained. Rearmament was not a Government objective. Political appeasement and economic co-operation alone could bring about a lasting peace, ANTI-AIRCRAFT UNITS FORMATION FROM FOOTBALL CLUBS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 28. (Received January 29, at 1 p.m.) A scheme for the formation of antiaircraft units or sub-units from players and supporters of football clubs has been approved by football league clubs in the London area.