NATION IN PERIL FROM THE AIR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 August 1928, Page 2

NATION IN PERIL FROM THE AIR.

EARL OF HALSBURY ISSUES GRAVE WARNING. LONDON, August 18. Britain appears to be faced with the fact that had the mimic air warfare been real at least half of London would be in ruins, and the area across the Thames gaslogged with poisonous fumes whence it would have been dispersed by the south-westerly winds into crowded areas bringing death and desolation. The Ear) of Halsbury, who at the time of the Armistice was in charge of plans for a bombardment of Germany, deliberately warns the nation that, it is in deadly peril. While Europe is building colossal ar armadas England is content with a few squadrons of mostly antiquated machines. We are practically disarmed in the aii-, he says, and at. the mercy of any hostile force. Dugouts for Safety. The evidence of the manoeuvres suggests that a mass of dugouts should bo devised in West End, squares useable as motor garages in peace time. * It is generally estimated that 50 pox cent, of the bombers penetrated the dofence, and that the 200 bombs dropped is equivalent to only a little less than the whole number dropped by German air forces during the entire war. Experts emphasise that destruction would have been more terrific had not the dice been loaded against the raiders who were forced to use. large slow night bombers heavily weighted; whereas an attacking enemy would prefer fast-fly-ing, light machines. Manoeuvres a Farce. The Earl of Halsbury describes air manoeuvres as a farce carried out at night at a height of 20.000 ft. What enemy would drop bombs from such a height when they could attack by day, swoop down to 100 ft. and drop bombs with safety? Everyone in the world is aware bombers are safest near the ground, when anti-aircraft guns could jiiot be trained.

He adds: "When I was in Franco recently aeroplanes were skimming' the roof* of houses. No scout would dar<j (live on a bomber only 100 ft. from the ground. "The first gas attack at Ypres cost us .nM.K. soldiers. What will be the effect of an attack on the civilians of London with gas a thousand times more powerful?" The Earl of Halsbury recently pointed out. that 50 tons of the latest arsenical poison gas would suffice to wipe out central London. Terrorising Civilians.

.Brigadier-General Groves, formerly Director of Flying Operations, states that each country will instantly despatch a fleet of bombers to the enemy's vital centres. It will be the aim of each side to terrorise civilians. London's vital points would soon be ruins,and gas would render other parts uninhabitable.

Local defence in air warfare can only be a palliative. The only effective method of defence is to counler-attack, The Daily Herald satirically asks whether civilians should not be drilled in the sudden donning of respirators at live minutes' notice, and tearing them off. Would not it be better if they wen l instructed rendering of first aid to the gassed and the giving of rapid hygienic interment to thousands of dead? All Must Participate. IMajor Turner in the Daily Telegraph says a force beyond practicable numbers would be necessary, not merely to account for every raider, but. merely to keep out a very few. A city such as London would need hundreds of squadrons. He suggests that civilians should bo drilled. The part played in air warfare is different from any other. All must participate. Peace is more likely to be preserved in this manner than I»v neglect. Mock Raids Successful.

An oil:(rial communique states that the air mano-uvres comprised 57 daylighr raids, nine of which completely evaded the defence, clouds and strong winds favouring the attackers. J)ay bombers were attacked 3!) times incoming, and 37 times outgoing. A large percentage of night living bombers were intercepted, the weather favuffring the defenders. The fighters brought down 151 bombers, anti-aircraft guns accounting for I'd. A total of L'lit lighters were lost.. Units Efficient. Yice-Air-iUarshal .Scarlett is satisfied with the efficiency of all units. The aircraft flow 250,000 miles. The only mishap involving injury was that a pilot's nose was slightly hurt whea a fighter-overturned. The bombers- could have carried a total of L'Oi' tons of bombs not deducting bombers adjudged shot;down before reaching objectives. •

The interception of bombers by light-: ers Is much iiiqir6ve<l .since last year, likewise' tbe- stiimlaril of pilotage, the .ii.se,uf'fiimiJs;' ii'iiti also searchlight work

'., .T-liose invaluable exercises were not intended to/test the etliciency of London"'defences', but the operational etliciency of individual units.'

Bombers and Fighters. Ail earlier' official • wireless despatch was to the effect: — The air exercises over London which have been proceeding each night during the current week concluded before mid-night. (Thursday). They have been conducted to test the efficiency of the squadrons engaged in certain features of defence work, but the whole defence system has not been brought into play. The manoeuvres presented an interesting spectacle, some 250 bombers and lighter machines being engaged over London, Avhero beams of light from scores of searchlights have illuminated the night skies. The high efliciency displayed by all engaged in the manceuvres is warily praised. The exercises were conducted without a single mishap involving loss of life or .serious injury. There, have, however, been, three forced landings in which'the occupants of machines were unhurt, arid last night (Thursday), a single-seater fighter caught, fire in the air and crashed on the towing path of .the Thames at Kew ; where it burnt out without. damaging -property or injuring people in the neighbourhood. The pUos made his escape by a parachute, with

which every officer and airman on flying duty is equipped. The parachute pack is used as a cushion for the airman's seat, and. with the harness attached to it, the device operates automatically when the airman jumps from the machine. Flying-Officer Bennett, who was involved in last night's mishap, dropped from the. machine, and landed gently on (lie root of a house iaKew. By means of a drain-pipe lie was aide to enter an upper window in Ihe house, and was none the worse for his hazardous experience. ■' Having apologised to the householder for his intrusion, he was greeted with cheers by an immense crowd in the .stree.t;who had witnessed the crash. " ' ' : '

Fire in -.the air in..,tf ri,ti.sh aircraft is aJ' extremely fare oeenrrcnee, nnrl thu ci mi instances a-ttiMKlifltf this case will be closely examined by experts.