THE AIR FLEET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16192, 19 March 1913, Page 8

THE AIR FLEET.

Colonel Seely's report on the development of the aeroplane branch of the Imperial Army does not indicate that rapid progress is being madeFour squadrons of twelve aeroplanes each havo been organised and the Minister of War expects that two more squadrons will be brought into existence this year, giving a total strength of seventy-two machines. The training of pilots has outrun the supply of aeroplanes and it is expected that the aeronaut officers and men will number 1000 at the end of this year. Delay has been produced, it seems, by the difficulty of securing British-made engines, but the War Office and the Admiralty are now. "providing a remedy.'.' It is not easy to understand why they hesitated to buy motors abroad if the British engineers cannot meet the demand. Britain has been strangely slow to follow the lead of the chief European Powers in the production of aerial war-craft, which have been proved by the experience of manoeuvres and of active service to bo indispensable adjuncts to a modern army. France had about 360 army aeroplanes at the end of last year, Germany had at least 250 and Russia possessed more than 200. Under these circumstances Britain's fleet of 70 or 80 aircraft at the end of this year will look absolutely insignificant.