SOMETHING FOR PEACE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 131, 3 May 1935, Page 7

SOMETHING FOR PEACE

GERMANY’S REARMAMENT. DECLARATION 1 BY GOERING. “HANDS OFF” POLICY. (United Press Association- —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received May 3, 10.35 a.m. BERLIN, May 2. “Germany has done something decisive for peace; she has rearmed,” said General Goering when addressing foreign Plcss representatives.

He added that the German air force was now prepared to hold its own against any in the world. “Nevertheless, we would reduce it in accordance with any general international treaty. Germany supports peace, but the other nations must not interfere in matters not concerning them,” he declared. GREAT AIR FORCE. General Goering said that Germany demanded an air force “equal to that of any constellation of Powers which may arise for or against peace.” This is interpreted to mean, in the event of a combination of the other European Powers, that Germany will demand an air force equal to the combined strength of such allies. General Goering added that the German air force in wartime had proved its ability to fight against odds. Similarly, the present air force was sworn to limitless sacrifice for the Fatherland.

He admitted that there was some truth in the stories that the factories were feverishly turning out aeroplanes in the depth of woods. The entire air fleet would comprise the most modern types and be so strong that any attacker would meet with the strongest struggle. GERMANY’SJ)]SFEN CE. GENERAL GOERING’S declaration. BERLIN, May 2. At the winding-up of the May Day celebrations, before the torchlight procession, General Gooring said : "Never again shall we. leave Germany’s defence position to politicians of other nations, or cowardly compromises at Geneva. We may leave others in peace and demand others to leave us in peace. Germany can sleep in peace because there are not cowards, but men watching over her.” BID FOR SUPREMACY. THE GERMAN NAVY. DISQ DIETING R E FOR T. LONDON, May 2. Mr Hector Bywater, the Daily Telegraph’s naval correspondent, says': Information not yet available to tlie public confirms the reality of the German bid for sea power. At least 18 months of active preparation in drawing office, shipyard, steelworks and gun factory have preceded the official avowal of a new programme. Eleven German capital ships and cruisers have been built since 1U29. All have a greater cruising radius than any British man-of-war. It is known that the ordnance shops at Essen and Dusseldorf arc working at full blast and the heavy armour-plate factory is on overtime. This activity is not explained by a programme of 12 small submarines. Germany can build in secrecy and will probably do so. While there is no immediate perturbation in London about the U boats, the cruiser position is regarded as serious. Already there are six German cruisers more heavily gunned than the new ships of the Leander and Arethusa type, and individually superior to any of the 20 older vessels which comprise half of the British cruiser strength. Other German cruisers about to lie started are of equal gun power and have far superior armour protection than any of the British 10,000-ton county-type ship. In the light of these facts a substantial enlargement of the British naval programme may soon be inevitable.