The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1928. THE NEED FOR A BETTER AIR FORCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10712, 9 October 1928, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1928. THE NEED FOR A BETTER AIR FORCE

The visit of Sir John . Salmond, the noted British air marshal, to these Overseas Dominions promises to provide results in relation to the air forces in the Commonwealth and in New Zealand us revolutionary as were those which followed the late Earl Kitchener’s pre-war visit in respect of the state of military preparedness iii these outlying portions of the Empire. It will be seen that he has very whole-heartedly condemned, on account of its obsolescence, the Federal defence force’s aerial equipment. His summing up on the matter is that it would he useless in the event of war and lie has made recommendations that would involve twice as heavy an annual expenditure as is at present being made under that heading in Australia. As far as this Dominion is concerned, it is certain that Sii John Salmond will be equally as condemnatory of its aerial equipment and that he will urge, inter alia, the acquisition of a number of up-to-date fighting planes, so that young New Zealanders may he trained in the latest methods of aerial warfare. It does not, of course, follow that aerial fighting will, in the near future, take place over oi' in the vicinity of this Dominion. The great aim of those responsible for the defence of the Empire is to-day, as hitherto, that each of- its units shall 'be in a position to provide really efficient help, if Britain and her Dominions should become involved in another life and death struggle. Nobody wishes to see the Empire again faced with the horrors of war. but. until the nations make it plain by disarming that they intend that future disputes 'shall lie settled by arbitration, the only sensible thing to do is to see that defence moneys are spent on the latest types of armament. It is, of course, not open to question hut that, if the Empire should, unhappily, become involved in fresh international strife, aerial warfare would play a very great part—it is generally believed the predominant part—in the struggle. The day would appear to ba over when huge armies will be reciuired to take the field. Rapidh', the means of warfare are/ becoming mechanised. Such being the case, every nation is, in particular, building up and improving its aerial armaments. Sir John Salmond in the circumstances, aims ar- assisting the' Overseas Dominions, so that, if called upon, they may he able to place at the disposal of the Empire quotas' of highly "skilled airmen. It may he taken for granted that lie will urge that a larger share of. its defence expenditure shall he allocated in the direction of strengthening its air force.