PERSONNEL OF NEW WAR BOARD OF AVIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16233, 19 May 1916, Page 5

PERSONNEL OF NEW WAR BOARD OF AVIATION.

FACTS VINDICATING THE BRITISH AIR SERVICE. HOUSE REFUSES TO LISTEN TO MR. BILLING. AERIAL INITIATIVE STILL WITH THE BRITISH. (Eeceived May 18. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, MAT 17. A debate on the British air service arose in the House of Commons on a motion by Mr. W. Joynson Hicks, Unionist member for Brentford, urging the Government to provide a powerful unified air service under a Minister. Mr. Joynson Hicks admitted that the defence of London was very efficient, but that of the east coast should be improved. British machines, he said, were not fast enough. British engines of 95 horse-power could not cope with German engines of 150 horse-power. Mr. Tennant, Under-Secretary for War, said there had been a great improvement in defences against aircraft. Supremacy in the air largely belonged to the British service, which won the great majority of fights, and habitually made more reconnaissances than the Germans. Two types of machine were faster than any German. Alluding to the abortive inquiry into the service, Mr. Tennant declared that it would be difficult to improve the constitution of the committee. MR. PEMBERTON BILLING TOLD TO SIT DOWN. Mr. Pemberton Billing, member for East Herts, who had made various allegations, but failed to appear before the committee, here attempted to intervene. There were loud cheers, and cries of " Sit down ! Shut up!" Mr. Tennant announced that Earl Curzon would be president of the new War Board, comprising two naval, three military, and one administrative member, besides a member of the House of Commons and a member of the House of Lords, for which House Lord Sydenham had already been appointed. The board's powers were advisory, with power to appeal to the War Committee if the Admiralty or the War Office did not accept its recommendations. MR. CHURCHILL ADVOCATES AN AIR MINISTRY. Mr. Winston Churchill eulogised the appointment of Earl Curzon, and said he trusted the board would be given adequate powers. Hitherto the Government had lacked a policy except one of "Wait and See. Dealing with the earlier days of the service, when Mr. Churchill himself was responsible, the speaker explained the difficulty of getting money, and said he was reduced to obtaining it under the guise of other votes. He alluded to the raids on Cuxhaven, Cologne, and Dusseldorf, which, he said, destroyed six Zeppelins during his term at the Admiralty. The War Office had rightly decided in 1914 not to build airships, no one foreseeing the attacks on undefended towns. The proper course was to establish an air ministry. FIGHTS OCCUR ON GERMAN SIDE OF THE LINE. Mr. Bonar Law, Secretary of State for the Colonies, condemned Mr. Billing's unwillingness to appear before the Air Committee. He claimed that the British air service was at least equal to that of any of the belligerents. Germany had never possessed a machine better than the British. Out of 479 fights only 63 had occurred on the British side of the line, and in these 13 German and no British airmen had been brought down. Britain was turning out monthly more than the total number of pilots available at the outbreak of the war. Mr. Billing protested against Ministers' attacks. He said he was prepared to substantiate his charges before an expert committee. He was willing to reconsider his decision not to attend any committee if allowed counsel. The debate had an unexpected ending, the House being counted out during Mr. Billing's speech. ' DEBATE VINDICATES THE BRITISH AIR SERVICE. The general impression in the lobby is that the debate vindicated the British air service. Mr. Churchill made a telling and carefullyprepared speech, but his tone was rather spiteful, and drew Mr Bonar Law's adroit retort that Mr. Churchill's criticism only commenced when he left office. Mr. Churchill, as an example of the evils of dual control, said that the naval airmen in Flanders had speedometers measuring knots, while the maps had scales in miles and kilometres. v Lord Hugh Cecil, who is a qualified airman, and has served in France, received an ovation at the end of an eloquent and charming eulogy of the flying service. Mr. Billing paid the penalty for refusing to substantiate his charges against the air service. The House of Commons refused to listen to his speech, and he was snuffed out amid general merriment. The Northcliffe press complains that the Government Board is only advisory, without power to act.