POWER OF BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 23326, 24 July 1939, Page 10

POWER OF BRITAIN

RESERVE FLEET ORDER RAF. FLIGHTS LONDON, July 18. Britain is making a final effort to ensure that the aggressor Powers and the threatened nations understand that Britain means business and that she iVill fight and can fight to fulfil her obligations and to resist lawlessness in Europe. This effort is represented by the decisions made during the last few weeks, including the order to man the Reserve Fleet, the plans to carry out Air Force flights over Europe, the huge Supplementary Estimates, and the granting of credits and loans to Poland and the other guaranteed States, The decision to man the Reserve Fleet means that the Fleet will be readier than in August, 1914. Throughout August and September, Britain will be readly instantly to establish convoys and anti-submarine patrols without weakening the Home Fleet. The Italian Press characterises the calling up of the British naval reservists as intimidatory and as fresh evidence of British war psychosis. It describes the R.A.F. Continental flights as provocative. NAVAL PREPAREDNESS. The manning of the Reserve Fleet will not be mobilisation such as was carriied out in September, 1938. when 30,000 reservists were called up; but it will be an equally effective method of adding to Britain’s naval preparedness. The reserve ships which are to be called up are chiefly intended! to protect shipping against submarines and aircraft. The cruisers and destroyers affected are mostly war-time vessels, many of which have been remodelled as antiaircraft ships. During August and September, the R.A.F. is expected) to show its wings on a grand scale. It is understood that the Government is' considering sending a big formation on a flight to the Near Eastern and Balkan nations which are likely to be Britain’s allies in the event of war. The route would probably bo over France and the Mediterranean to Eygpt, Turkey, Greece, and Rumania. The proposed flight to Poland would be more difficult, just as it would be difficult, just as it would be difficult to lend effective aid in the event of war, unless Rusisa joins the peace front. An aircraft carrier may be employed to transport several squadrons of planes to Gdynia, whence they would! fly over Poland, and thus avoid flying over Germany and the neutral Denmark. DOMINION NAVIES. Influential circles suggest that it would be useful if the dominion navies followed Britain’s lead and manned their reserve shops, thus demonstrating the unity of the Empire’s naval forces, and organised long air force ights, intended to create an impression in the Eastern Hemisphere, similar to that Britain is creating in Europe. The Italian newspapers are indignant about the naval decision. The ‘ Popolo di Roma ’ says: “ The British Press is trying to convince the public that British arms are invincible and that British financial resources are so formidable that every enemy can be considered beaten in the arms race which precedes the battle.” The ‘ Messaggero ’ says: “ The British Press is emphasising the intimidatory character of the naval measures. This duplicates the publicity given to the Air Force’s provocative Continental flights.”