N.Z. Comparatively Safe From Air Attack

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1938, Page 9

N.Z. Comparatively Safe From Air Attack

-SIR E. ELLINGTON'S OPINION

'[Per Press Association copyright .] ■ WELLINGTON. This Day. : The most immediate danger to Ausj tralia and New Zealand in the event I of war must come from a raid, for an enemy deciding to attack either country must have a land base from which its aircraft can operate. Because of the long distance separating i it from any suitable land base. New ! Zealand is probably better situated i than other parts of the British Empire. This is the opinion which AirMarshal Sir Edward Ellington, Inspec-tor-General of the Royal Air Force, expressed in an interview yesterday, after his arrival at Wellington by the Awatea. Sir Edward is paying a brief, informal visit to New Zealand on his way to Canada. | Protection of Distance. ! There were zone islands in the Pacific which might be used by an enemy, said Sir Edward, but they were bai’ely within reach of New Zealand at present. He did not think it practicable for aircraft to operate more than 2000 miles. There was always the chance, of course, that aeroplanes from ships might fly over parts of New Zealand and create alai’m. but Sir Edward did not think the risk would be very great. “I do not think the damage would be very much,” he added. It would be very risky, he said, for an enemy ship to approach within range of the military aircraft in New Zealand, and at present sea-borne aeroplanes were inferior to land machines. Aircraft 'carried by ships wore limited in a number of ways. They were limited because of the hangar accommodation available, and also in general size. They had to be of the folding typo, which added to their weight, and equipped with attachments which enabled them to land or be catapulted from ships. “At present,” said Sir Edward, “and as far as I can see for many years to come, a seaborne aeroplane will always be inferior to its land-base contemporary.” Training of Pilots. Referring to training pilots for the Royal Air Force, Sir Edward said New Zealand was contributing very valuable material. For several years the Dominion had not only been .raining pilots, but had been selecting and sending Home for Royal Air Force training a considerable number of young men, a high proportion of whom had a knowledge of the world in general. One of the most difficult problems was to obtain young men suitable for quick training to the standard required for the work of junior leaders, for example, flight-commanders. A number of young officers had been recruited from the mercantile marine, which had also provided good material.