DEFENCE BILLS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1936, Page 3

DEFENCE BILLS

FRENCH & BELGIAN MEASURES , TO MEET GERMAN CHALLENGE PARIS, November 3. New and important military dec:sions have been taken by the I rend] and Belgian Governments to nneP.’tlie | challenge of the enlarged '■ German 1 army, which is expected to total 800,000.' ’ , The French Cabinet approved a bill | to soend an extra £57,000,000 on mod- j cruising the Air Force. New fighter-squadrons _ will be ! created and equipped with ihe latfst [ and fastest machines, as many . lninj deeds of those still in service a’ e .hopelessly ont of date. ( Realising that she can never hope , 'to niiitell Germany in man-pow>r, wrh j j a population of 40,000,000 against I 60,0b0.000. France hopes to outbudd Her I rival in guns, tanks, aeroplanes, and j armoured cars. Heavier taxation to provide Jhe needed money is expected to 'rppeiir in the Budget to he submitted vgen’ Parliament reopens shortly. France is already committed .o an j expenditure on all arms of £Boo,('••■),Gtfb i spread over the next four years. | | Germany has spent :: more th m that j amount in the last two years, j A front-line strength of about oOtK) aircraft, is sought by'vie.Gener.il St,.)l, which is evolving a plan wlie>‘eby the aeroplane factories' would suoily it ■with 1500 new machines every year f’or replacements.

This would mean that whatever new discoveries came along l o the air fleet obsolete, the replaceiaeiitij would always be the most mqijfc.h, and therfewould be enough of them to create a formidable force. .Germany’s actual air strength cctri only be guessed at, but her‘ potential strength is enormous, . as' : demonstrated by the fact that in. four years of war' her industries were ablfc to produce 47,000 machines. . ; r , ' The Belgian Parliament will - have before, it to-dav a new military bill, providing: for border fortificaitiopS, and possibly, adding to the.term of service. • .• , ~y V The bilb is expected to embody in military terms the isolation policy recently enunciated ' by Idling Leopold.'' . . ;; . I By'changing her role from that of France’s ally to that of neiitta!, Belgium must face heavier expenditure if her frontiers are. to become strong enough to prevent otlij?r nations j from turning her territory into a i battlefield. . r v | Although the details of the bill hare been kept secret, they are said to make I provision for just such a sittiation. i 1 '••• " v __;: