DEFENCE SECRET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 15

DEFENCE SECRET

FIGHTING MONOPLANE AMAZING PERFORMANCE MACHINES FOR AIR FORCE [from our own correspondent] By Air Mail LONDON. April 4 A closely kept secret until a few days ago, the most formidable singleengined bomber in the world lias been demonstrated in flight before aeronautical experts, to whom has been revealed something of its amazing qualities. The machine, a low-wing monoplane designed and built by the Fairey Company, has been ordered in large numbers by the Air Ministry for the equipment of " attack " squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Delivery is expected to begin in the summer. Its service name is " Battle." No details of the Battle's performance may yet be published, but it is known that in slightly over ten minutes the new bomber could fly from the Fairey aerodrome at Heathrow to the south coast, a distance of between 45 and 50 miles. Flight-Lieutenant C. S. Staniland, the company's chief test pilot, showed that with speed the aeroplane combines great power and ease of manoeuvre. Even when full allowance is made for the light load, the perfect loops, rolls, half-rolls, tight vertical turns, and figures or eight through which tiie Battle evolved must remain a performance worthy of the highest praise. Many of those who watched wondered how far flying of this order could bo countered in aerial combat even by the latest and most powerful fighters. The span of the Battle is 54 feet, length an inch or two over, height on the ground 13 feet. An automatic pilot is installed to help the human pilot on long flights and when flying in conditions of " zero visibility." The cockpit is totally enclosed by a tunnelshaped top made of tough, transparent material, which can bo opened partly or wholly an the circumstances of aerial combat or bombing attack may demand. The bomb-load is carried in special compartments within the structure of the aeroplane and does not, therefore, detract from performance by adding to the head resistance of the machine. WELLINGTON'S BISHOP INFLUENCE OF TOO H A REMARKABLE GATHERING [from our own correspondent] By Air Mail LONDON, April 4 There was inspiration in the atmosphere pervading a remarkable gathering of men at Hampton Lucy on March 24. The occasion was probably the most notable Guest Night yet held by the South Warwickshire district of Toe H, and representatives were present from a< wide area to bid farewell to the Archdeacon of Warwick (Padre Holland), who is shortly to leave for Wellington, of which ho is bishop-elect. The archdeacon appealed for a deepening of that spirit of fellowship and service which is the foundation of Toe H influence. "You cannot give service or love other people unless you start by fair thinking," was a striking extract from his address. "You must have fair thinking before you can have right relationship with another person or in social or national problems. . . Any Imm who is thinking seriously about the world to-day must seo it is a challenge to every personality." Acknowledging the gift of a gold pencil, the archdeacon said he owed far more to Toe H than Toe H owed to him. "To my mind," he continued, "the thing about Toe H has been definitely this: that it has brought me close to men in a way in which I have failed to get close to men in my church life. Why that is so, I do not know, but there it is. 1 believe Toe H was born for the villages."

From a chat he had had with Padre Leonard and Padre Leggate he was assured that Toe H "blokes" in NewZealand were glad that for once they were to have a bishop who did not want converting to Toe H! The worldwide fellowship was ever increasing, and he visualised an experiment whereby some close contact could be established between Now Zealand Toe H and that in South Warwickshire.

YACHTSMEN IN SEA MENACED BY SHARK [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, April 18 A yachting party of eight spent some hours, in the open sea off liottnest, near Perth, Western Australia, a few days ago clinging to tho mast ropes of their submerged boat, which had capsized after a side-slip. Tho yacht Miranda, heavily laden with stores, left Perth early in the morning and was running before the wind when sho overturned. Tho suspense of tho crew, who were thrown into tho water, was added to by a shark, which swam at a leisurely pace around tho yachtsmen when tho yacht overturned. Tho party was lucky to be rescued as the crew of the rescuing launch mistook the heads of the men in the water for shags and proceeded to tho spot only out of curiosity.