THIS YEAR'S COST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 9

THIS YEAR'S COST

s ABOUT £188,000,000 AIR FORCE EXPANSION • DETAILS OF PROPOSALS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February IS, 0.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 17 The newspapers state that the forecast of an average expenditure • of £300,000,000 annually on defence over a. period of five years came as a surprise to members of Parliament, who eagerly scanned the White Paper in the lobbies. In the current financial year the expenditure on defence will cost about £188,000,000. The White Paper stated that the | Royal Air Force had become a matter i of paramount importance. No effort had ! been or was being spared to bring it up to the strength and the standard of efficiency which the Government deems requisite for safety. Further the" document noted that the man-power of the Air Force had been increased from 31,000 in 1934 to more than 50,000 in 1936. It announced that a further largo increase was contemplated in the coming financial year. The present first-line strength of the i Metropolitan Air Force is about 1000 compared with 580 when expansion was begun and the provision made in the j estimates for the current year for aeroj planes and spare parts was £19,(300,000, ! compared with an average in pre-, j expansion years of about £6,000,(100. | A further 750 first-line aircraft arc ; required for the home force, an additional 185 for overseas units and another 250 for the Fleet ,air arm. In addition to first-line machines sufficient reserves must be obtained to ensure that the first-line strength can be adequately maintained on active service. Steps also are being taken to build up what has become known as a "war potential." POWERS' CRUISERS EIGHT-INCH GUN CATEGORY BRITAIN NOT OUTCLASSED (Received February 38, G.» p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. It The First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Samuel Hoare, in the House of Comnjons to-day said the numbers of eight-inch gunned cruisers completed or being built by the Powers wore: British Commonwealth, 15; America, 18; Japan, 12; France and Italy, seven each; Germany, three. Sir Samuel said he was glad of the opportunity to state that there was no warrant for the assertion recently made in the press that British ships in this category were outclassed. AMERICAN POLICY NAVY SECOND TO NONE VIEW OF BRITAIN'S MOVE (Received February 18, 6.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 Admiral William Leahy, Chief of Naval Operations, to-day gave a clear indication that the Navy Department will recommend the United States to match Britain in regard to new battleship construction. At a conference with journalists he stated that he knew of no change in the policy of the United States that the Navy should be second to none. Admiral Leahy said he believed the sentiment of the country was that if any other Power expanded its Navy appreciably the United States would have to follow to maintain parity. He

intimated, however, that since the new British cpnstruction appeared to be for the replacement of over-age ships, probably there would be no the United States to build new aircraft-carriers or cruisers, because Britain had several old ships in these categories and America had none.

The belief is expressed in some quarters in Washington that Britain does not intend to build all the ships listed in the White Paper, hut that her real aim id to frighten the naval Powers, chiefly Italy and Germany, which havo refused to participate in a naval armaments agreement. NAVAL EXPANSION SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT LONDON, Feb. 17 The actual expansion of the Royal Navy under the new proposals will comprise threo capital ships, in addition to two laid down last year; seven cruisers, in addition to seven to bo laid down in the current year; and two aircraftcarriers, in addition to two in the current year. The full expansion of the Fleet air arm to 450 machines will bo delayed until the aircraft-carriers are completed.

POISON GAS EFFECTS STUDY OF TREATMENT' (Received February 18, 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA, Feb. 17 Colonel La Fleche, Deputy Minister of Defence, announces that medical students in the universities have been requested to study the treatment for poison gas.