WAR IN THE AIR.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13983, 20 November 1917, Page 6

WAR IN THE AIR.

. BRITISH BOARD OF CONTROL. ASSIGNATION OF CHAIRMAN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, November 18. Lord Cowdray, in a letter to Mr Lloyd flporgc,. says': "The publication of the letter in wMdi Lord NorthclifTc refused .Mr Lloyd George's offer to become Air Minister, was the first intiiwitidn of your desire for a change, consequently you canndt be surprised to receive my resignation," •Lord Cowdray adds that when Mr Lloyd George appointed him, the former explained that the Air Ministry was to be formed on a status quo equal to the Admiralty and the War Office, and ad-': vised him Ihat there would be dillieul-i ties in co-ordinating the naval and mili- i tary air serivses; also that nn-increased' supply of aircraft demanded immediate ] attention. Lord Cowdray states that he ovolved and submitted a' solution of the problems within four weeks of his appointment, and his suggestions were embodied in the Air Service. Bill, which provides for the desired result. He claims that since his appointment, the number of the air forces have increased threefold. JAPAN'S PART. NO TROOPS FOR EUROPE. < SHOULDfeRTNG THE ALLTEB' CAUSE, (fteuter's Telegrams), TOKIO, Ndvember 18. The Finance. Minister, in'the course of a speech in the Japanese Diet, said that it was absolutely impossible to despatch Japanese. troops to Europe. The Allies approbated the difficulties, and •hadnevor pressed the matter. Japan's willingness to shoulder tho Allied cause had been demonstrated'by'naval, ship- , ping, and financinlVc-operatroii. Direr-t----ly and indirectly Japan had rendered the Allies (innncial help •tiwreffntine 51,000,000,000.' ' ° ■■■•■ '-J I I . ■ J . EXCHANGING SHIPS FOR STEEL, FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS, (Australian and Router). ' _ TOKIO, November 18. It is officially announced that tho Japanese-American provisional agreement for the exchange of 175,000 tons ' of American steel, in return-for ?50,000 i tons of Japanoso shipping, jias been up- > set, .Bwing to the unaccoptnbility of J, America's further conditions, regardjng' the age limit of the ships and the price ' per ton. '• ~ , (