AIR FORCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1923, Page 5

AIR FORCE

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(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) , LONDON, July 24. 3 The Select Committee on the Air Estimates expresses the opinion that - while the flying branch is well man--1 aged, there is a great tendency towards extravagance and lack of pro3 per financial organisation in the Ministry itself. As an instance it , points out that a group captain and a chaplain, after eighteen years’ ser--3 vice, are permitted to have two bat- > men. No information was forthcoming on this point beyond the fact that - as the officers advance in rank there 3 is a certain dignity to be kept up. t’ The Air Marshal (says the report) ■ has three batmen. > The Committee also commented on the entertainment allowances granted officers and states that, whereas it takes 30 men to launch a French aeroplane, SO men are required for ■ a British ’plane. The British force employs three men for every one in the French air force, which costs only a fraction of what the British force does. EMPIRE- MAIL SERVICE. LONDON, July 24. It is expected that the Prime Minister will make a statement in the House of Commons to-day regarding the Burney air scheme. The “Morning Post” understands the scheme to which the Cabinet has assented, shows a slight modification from Burney’s. The ex-perimental stage will extend only to Egypt. If the proposition promises commercial possibilities, it will be extended to India, and afterwards to Australia. The Government assistance will expand with the expansion of the service. AMER [CAN PREPARATIONS. WASHINGTON, July 24. Mr. Weeks will ask Congress for an appropriation of 25 million dollars for the Army Air Service for 1924, fifteen million of which will be spent in new equipment, and the remainder in general operating expenses. The appropriation would be twice the amount available for the Army Service for 1923, and it is expected that Mr. Weeks will inform Congress that increased appropriations will be necessary annually hereafter to assure adequately the country’s tiefence aerially. The United States now has only 450 planes available, the majority of which are old war stock of the army. Mr. Weeks hopes to increase the number to 2500 available in the event of an • outbreak of hostilities.