AIR TRAINING

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1942, Page 5

AIR TRAINING

Conference in Canada HON. F. LANGSTONE’S STATEMENT LAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l ' (Rec. 8.2) OTTAWA, May 19. The New Zealand Minister (Hon. H. F. Langstone) said that the Air 'framing Plan was already an unqualified success. Canada cotiid .be justifiable proud of her administration. The school graduates have already won glory on every front, but the effort would have to go forward with greater energy, scope, and sacrifice, if necessary to make the Allied forces, stronger than the enemy. Mr. Langstone made a special plea for complete co-operation and co-ordina-tion of fighting strength. He said that New Zealand was ready to Cooperate to .the fullest extent possible. Mr. MacKenzie King, in a speech at the Air Training Conference, welcomed the delegates. He (regretted the absence of Russia. Mr. King said that the ijnperative need was coordinated air strength. “In perfecting coi-ordihated effort among the United Nations lies the key to victory. In many fields, means of achieving unified action in prosecuting the war have already been devised, such as unified strategic direction, common planning, and the unified allocation of munitions and raw materials. The aim of the conference is not merely the discussion of problems. It is proposed to explore all possible avenues of co-op-eration and co-ordination in the air training field, with a view to planning the best and most-speedy use of all the existing facilities. It is imperative to keep in mind that air training is directed to actual combat in the air. The ultimate purpose all have in view is the attainment of overpowering and decisive air strength. The magnificent contributions already made to that end by the United Kingdom and the United States are the pride of all who love valour and who cherish freedom.” The Air Training Conference discussions continued to-day in closed sessions. The Air Minister, Mr. Power, will make a statement daily. The conference chairman said that the nations represented will work in three main groups:—Firstly, the British quartet, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, - with the United States; secondly, other countries training in America, such as Norway, the Netherlands, and China; and thirdly, countries not training in America, but chiefly m Africa and England, such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Belgium, South'Africa and Free France. The United States group will have at least three committees working on different subjects simultaneously. Major General Barton Young, Commander of the United States Air Training, in a statement to the Press said we are nearing the point where any pilot of any one of the United Nations can step into any of the other nations’ show. The Air Minister, Mr. Power, said that the ideal situation would be a pool, including all pilots and all planes of the United Nations.