DISARMING BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20480, 4 February 1930, Page 11

DISARMING BRITAIN.

[LABOUR'S NEW MOVE.

AIR FORCE REDUCTIONS.

ESTIMATES EXAMINED.

[FEW FIGHTING SQUADRONS

OTHER POWERS STRONGER

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received February 3, 5.25 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 3. The Daily Telegraph follows up its disclosures about the cancellation of orders for the construction of British warships with details of the Government's pacific Jntentions" in regard to the air service. According to tho paper the Koval Air JForce estimates also have been made the occasion for a disarmament gesture. H'hose for the coming year only provide ifor a fraction of the addition, to the force •contemplated by the defence standard {framed in 1923. The articlo continues:—The intention is sto provide only one new fighter squadron, •making 13 in all, whereas under the 1923 programme the total should be brought 1o 18. In, spite of the fact that 34 regular and non-regular bombing isquadrons be required at the end of 1930, we fchall only have 24 bombing squadrons. the programme for home air defence ftvas regarded as the bare minimum and jbnly a fraction of the force can be applied to an offensive against a foreign •enemy.

Whereas France has 1350 first-line aircraft and Italy 1000, Britain only has 772 Jod the sea and on the land.