BRITISH AIR POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 March 1922, Page 7

BRITISH AIR POLICY

AN EXPERT S OPINIONS.

(“Times’ ’ Service;. Recd. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, March 25. Brigadier-General Gioves, the air expert, concluding a series of special articles in the “Times,” submits that tlie aims of the British air policy should be as follows: — (1) To build as rapidly and economically as possible a striking air force for home defence, lest che,-heart of the Empire be opened to a sudden direct attack from the air; (2) to provide tho army and navy witli specialised air forces with essential efficiency ; (3) to create a Royal Air Force organisation to carry out the duties at present performed by the army and navy; (4) to maintain and develop the. aircraft industry. Civil aviation had suffered in the past, he writes, because it had not been definitely and clearly identified with national defence. State grants were the only possible method of creating defensive air fleets or exploiting~and utilising civil aviation, of which the bulk of the material and personnel should be promptly available at the outbreak of war. . “We are faced with the intensive growth of air power throughout the Continent and the world,” he continues, “and are not creating adequate means to meet that force. Nearly four centuries ago great sea captains laid th© foundation of sea power and gave England peace and security. We no longer may look to the sea power to protect us. We stand upon The threshold of a new'age, and to us is given the greater task of building up a mightier force to safeguard the future of'the Empire.”