BRITISH AIR FORCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 80, 16 March 1933, Page 9

BRITISH AIR FORCE

ESTIMATES PRESENTED PAST YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED MANY PEACEFUL ACTIVITIES Rugby, Mar. 14. In presenting the Air Force estimates in the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. Sir Phillip Sassoon said that contributions to economy by the force had not been made without anxiety. The apparent rise of £6,(XX) in the total of £17,424,0C0 concealed a reduction of £340,000, following the decrease ot £700,000 last year. No new units were provided for, although ten regular squadrons were still required to complete the modest programme approved as long ago as 1923. Pending the outcome of the Disarmament Conference, they were once again prepared to accept a continuance of the serious existing disparity between the strength of the Royal Air Force and that of the air services of other groat nations. In terms of first line strength the Royal Air Force stood to-day only fifth on the list of air Powers, although at the end of the Great War Britain had a larger number of trained flying personnel and a larger total number of aircraft than any other nation. The decision therefore again to postpone overtaking the arrears on the modest programme deemed to be the minimum necessary in 1923 was a gesture of importance which would not be over-looked.

The air policy of Britain had always been conspicuously moderate and unprovocative. Nevertheless, whilst air forces existed, air power was as vital to the British Empire as sea power, and could not be neglected. Reviewing the past year’s work of the Air Force, Sir Philip Sassoon referred to many peaceful activities, mentioning among other examples the conveyance of surgical aid to sheikhs in the deserts of Iraq, the carrying of anti-cholera and anti-typhoid vaccines to remote native villages on the Persian Gulf, reconnaisance to give flood warnings in India and Iraq, the supply of food to famine stricken tribes in the Trans-Jordan, the discovery of uncharted reefs, locust fighting and the conveyance of political officers and civil mails to isolated communities. MAINTENANCE URGED. London, Mar. 14. In the House of Commons the Rt. Hon. Sir Donald Maclean (Labour) said he believed that all air forces represented the terrorism which the Rt Hon. Stanley Baldwin had expressed the fear would one day be loosed on civilisation. The Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill agreed with Mr Baldwin’s declaration in the House of Commons on November 10 that air power might either end war or civilisation, but that speech aroused alarm without offering guidance or solution. In the present condition of Europe France could not be expected to reduce her air force, while Germany’s remained as now. “'While not abandoning hope of international agreement, we should not base the life of Britain thereon. We would be well advised to concentrate upon air defence with great vigour.” The motion to go into committee on the air estimates was carried by 209 votes to 35. BRITAIN’S AVIATION EXPORTS. Bugby, Mar. 14. Three hundred aeroplanes, 452 aero engines and other aeroplane parts of British manufacture to a total value of nearly £1,750,000 were exported from the United Kingdom during 1932.