AIR ATTACKS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11452, 28 February 1931, Page 5

AIR ATTACKS

WON T HALT BATTLESHIPS RESULT OF AMERICAN ' MANOEUVRES (TT P A. by Elec. Tel. Copyrlabt) (Received Fob. 27, 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. Admiral Pratt, reporting on the recent fleet manoeuvres oil' 5 * Panama, stated that the consensus of officers’ opinion was that, air attacks were “of less value as a means of defence against fleets” than had been expected; ,' , Vice-Admiral Reeves asserted that the air force alone could not stop the advance of the. battleships or prevent them from carrying out landing operations. TT Chairman. Britton, ot"the Houso naval committee, remarked “It is interesting to note that even the aviaion enthusiasts of The navy now admit the superiority of battleships.’ Along with the notes summarising the manoeuvres were two as un 4er: ‘in the two davs’ operations of defending. >the air force's, strength, both in planes and bombs, was reduced by half. When th 0 problem ended the air strength approached exhaustion in aeroplanes, bombs 'and fuel for both carriers and planes”, and’ “despite the successful air operations and the damage inflicted on the convoy, the maximum efforts of the Air Force had no offeeb-hpon the steady advance of ' the " attacking fleet. -Thry carriers were found to be hampered .•'by: lack of s adequate protection against gunfire- and' inability to eseapawhilo operating the plapes.'*