JAPANESE AIRMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18325, 15 February 1923, Page 7

JAPANESE AIRMEN.

UNDER BRITISH INSTRUCTION. : RAPID PROGRESS ' MADE. LONDON, Feb. 7. ■ : The Master of SempUl; Mr.,.W. F. Forbes-Sempill, -who is a director of th» j ; International Ail-Steel Aircraft; Syndicate,-, Ltd. in an interview ! given to the London Daily Mail after his retsrn from ■ Japan, said that the Japanese had made remarkable progress in ■$. aviation, under British tuition. Mr. : Forbes-Sempill was. appointed for two years to undertake the organisation, equipment, and training of y the Japanese naval air service. ;;•' _;* He stated /• that ; the pupils /took the . keenest interest in the : work, - and "Mo. standard for pilots, was. higher * than ~ the • English. The Japanese were ready, to try anything, and -showed :; no ' trace of "nerves.''.; In- equipment the Japanese : service was superior to Britain's, and/tfo machines touched six tons in weight, and ■were fitted with engines of 500 horsepower. ' '"'■.'. ...- : ', : •• -'■ -'. .*-■: .','. • *,;;', -' Mr. Forbes-Sempill added : that ; Japan , was concentrating onall-metal; machines. : The training school was equipped withy: aeroplanes,; engines, guns,' and spare parts from' British : works. Orders from; Japan had helped to keep English firpis going when lack of work was compelling ■ many to close down. •''-'. V , The Japanese Minister for ,Wai. has declared that he is hot satisfied with '■■, the i military air service, which has had sepa-: > rate training under a mission of a foreign "Power.:- He does not■"; think the'; machines as good as those supplied by; British firms. "Japan does' not: intend:.;aggressive action," says the Minister, "but desires.to bring her air force up: to the same standard as the navy 'which ; she is permitted ; to retain under th« Washington agree- ' ment -. . - ' '•'.'. • ~ \