BRITAIN'S AIR FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15265, 1 April 1913, Page 7

BRITAIN'S AIR FLEET.

FIVE YEARB' -'80i-IEWk. SIXTY AIRSHIPS AND AEROPLANES. fts Telegraph.—Press Association.- -'.^.pyTisi;i London, March 30. The sum of £2,500,600 will be spent by. the , Admiralty on aircraft between 1914 and 1918. "The scheme includes nine airships, 50 aeroplanes and the requisite garages and personnel.. , The small attendance at.the British Aero Show,-held in February, drew ; the following remarks from the London Daily Mail:—" The iritei-pst taken in flying by! the public is si-, reelv any greater, now. than it was two. years ago. This is. not only a depressing, it is a • dangerous symptom of national .indifference. When one thinks of the -crowds at the Pans i Aero Exposition, their eager curiosity, their • pride in French achievement, * one asks oneself in despair, Why are English people so apathetic? We have some of the finest fliers in the world.. Wo. ( have energetic, persevering constructors. We have clever designers, -who are only waiting for chances to put their ideas to the tost. , Wo have much to be proud of, as well as the.French. "Yet the mass of vis simply pay no attention to the ' science which is already beginning: to revolutionise warfare; do. nothing to encourage the men who are, striving their utmost, spending their nil, to./ keep- Britain's "end up;'* will.net even, spare '*" shilling -and; an hour to go and see what' stage of development these immensely interesting machines have reached. It is vitally important for 'tits to ', keep up With the ad varices in aeroplane building. For these are no toys, no trick machines.' They are solid; they have come to stay./ And we rmist have them.. If we are to havei them before 'it is .too late -the nation must give the Government a lead."" ' " .' "' Great strides in regard to military and] naval aviation are being; made in" Get.many'tm'"• well as \ in,: France.,, 'To-day's cablegrams -containaftirtlrer - -'evidence.•'"■-. of this,fact: *..-.-.-. , -'" '• '"'■■'■'■: ; '/