SOVIET AIR FORCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 13 September 1937, Page 5

SOVIET AIR FORCE

BIG DRIVE TO EXPAND BOMBERS FOR FAR EAST FEAR IN JAPANESE OFFICIAL CIRCLES fUnitod Press Association —U.v Electric Telecraph—OoD.vric'itl (Received 13th September, 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, 11th September. The "Morning Post's" Helsingfors correspondent says Russia has begun a big drive to expand her air force in the Far East and is rushing daily consignments of the latest bombers. The press openly claims that Russian pilots will soon have no difficulty in laying Tokio and Osaka in ruins. Japanese official circles are believed to fear that Russia will shortly join China against Japan. German staff officers are reported to have arrived at Tokio to instruct Japanese in defence from air attacks, while the two nations are negotiating to strengthen the pact against Bolshevism. Meanwhile the Soviet is immediately beginning to build fast single-engined bombers under license from the American Vultee Corporation, which will supply supervisory engineers. A great engine factory is hurriedly being built on the outskirts of Moscow and a second factory specialising in seaplanes cf American design is under construction on the shores of the Black Sea.