AIR STRENGTH OF THE POWERS

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 58, 20 May 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

AIR STRENGTH OF THE POWERS

GREAT BRITAIN SIXTH IN - NUMBERS. FRANCE LEADS. ' •('':;:■' A comparison of the reports on air' force strength submitted to the League of Nations shows that Great Britain is sixjuh in respect of numbers. The reports lack uniformity in method, and it is impossible to make a true comparison. In some caies no attempt is made to separate firstline aircraft from reserves, and there 5 is lack of agreement as to immediate and secondary reserves. A comparison of first-line strength is shown in" the "following figures, which are com}-!' piled direct from the official ports:— ' ;':i United States: 1752 first-line aircraft, including a few test and reserve machines. France: 1667 first-line aircraft. Italy: 1507 first-line aircraft, including immediate reserves. Russia: 1500 (estimated) first-line aircraft.

Japan: 1385 first-line aircraft. Great Britain: 838 first-line aircraft, including 96 in India. ' > ' . Rumania: 799 first-line aircraft, including reserves. Poland: 700 first-line aircraft, including reserves. Yugo-Slavia: 627 first-line aircraft. Czecho-Slovakia: 546 first-line aircraft. Spain: 354 first-line aircraft. Belgium: 195 first-line aircraft. The total for Great Britain includes regular formations of the five cadre squadrons, the fleet air arm, and 96 aircraft in India. The figures are the latest supplied by the Air Ministry. India makes a separate report to the League, and 'Royal Air Force units, are at the disposal of the Govern-, ment of India. The total for Russia is an estimate based on unreliable reports. Four years ago the late Lord Thomson stated that Russia possessed 1250 to 1500 aircraft. Efforts are being made to bring the total to 5000 by 1935. Russia makes no report to the League of Nations. '

In the figures given above aircraft on carriers and other vessels aire taken into acdount, but aircraft-car-riers are not listed here. The question of reserves leads inevitably to civil aircraft, for it is certain these are to some extent convertible, the big air liners as bombers and troop carriers and the high-speed mail planes as a very ready generalpurpose type. ■'■'£.