THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1938 BRITISH AIR DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23021, 26 April 1938, Page 10

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1938 BRITISH AIR DEFENCE

The aeroplane has deprived Britain of her ancient advantage in defence of being an island. Her immunity from the effects of hostile invasion has been ended because, as Mr. Baldwin said, "The bomber will always get through." Consciousness of this new factor explains the concentration of British attention on problems of air defence. Messages published this morning show that the subject is once again exercising the public mind. Indeed, apprehension is not surprising in view of recent examples of bombing at Barcelona, Guernica, Canton and Nanking. The British Government is charged with not exerting the maximum effort in securing the British Isles against the air menace. It is doubtful whether the charge is wellfounded. The fact is that the British Government has adopted a most formidable programme and, if it is not quite reaching its objectives by the dates set, its performance continues to be impressive. Its critics are probably aware of the fact and their attacks seem designed to key up preparations and prevent any slaokening. The goal of British air policy is to create a force that will offer a strong deterrent to any enemy and an equally strong insurance of peace. In the current financial year the enormous sum of £102,720,000 has been devoted to this single defence service, an increase on last year of £20,000,000. The Air Force is costing almost as much as the Army and five-sixths of the vote for the Navy. Its present strength is 1500 first-line machines, to be increased to 1750 by March of next year. The latest suggestion from London of further expansion may have some substance, but the figure given—9ooo machines —appears extravagant in view of present achievements and objectives. Nevertheless a strong feeling exists that Britain is falling behind Germany in the air race. This had expression in the House of Commons a few weeks ago when the White Paper on Defence was debated. Mr. Chamberlain said in effect that his Government had abandoned Mr. Baldwin's programme of numerical parity in the air and relied on other factors, such as superior personnel and morale, the quality of British aircraft including speed, range and equipment, and "the aggregate and effectiveness of our resources." These can be admitted as important advantages, Britain's great and varied industrial capacity being an especially vital strategic asset in an era of mechanised warfare. Against these credits, however, has to be set the vulnerability to air attack of the heart of Britain and of the Empire. One-third of Britain's population lives in the south-eastern corner of Britain, east of a line drawn from Southampton to the Wash. This area is also the nearest to Europe. Hence the Commons listened with strained attention to Mr. Winston Churchill's account of the German air effort. He calculated that Germany was spending twice as much as Britain on her Air Force, that her aircraft were twice as many, and were being expanded at double the British rate, including upkeep. Whether the Reich commands quality as well was widely doubted after the performance of German aircraft over Madrid by comparison with Russian machines, a judgment since revised by experience over Barcelona. Apparently Germany is mastering the mass production method, giving her tin immense advantage in output. It was stated in the French Parliament recently that the Reich could now turn out 400 aeroplanes, a month against 40 in France, "where the nationalisation of plants and the shorter working week have seriously reduced production. What Britain's present maximum may be has not been stated, but the suggestion has several times been made that, as far as possible without sacrificing quality, she should apply mass production methods. British Government policy appears to be trending in that direction. It was stated in the Commons debate that the limit of output had been reached under present methods, that British aircraft factories were working night shifts and sometimes on Sundays, and, in fact, at such full capacity that it would be difficult to superimpose any further programme on them. Enlargement of factories offered no immediate solution as the training of skilled artisans occupied at least five years. Hence, if the present pressure continues, the development of mass production methods is to be expected. At the same time the Air Ministry is exploring the American market for useful types of machines. From all this some idea of the intensity of the British air effort can be gained. It contrasts strongly with the smug calm still reigning in New Zealand. Nor are Britain's cares confined to the provision of an adequate Air Force. The Home Office is co-operat-ing busily with local authorities in working out precautions against air raids. These involve the planning of base hospitals and first-aid centres, the provision of decontamination and auxiliary fire services, the re--1 cruiting of street wardens, the issue of gas masks, the training of anti- , gas squads, and the building or con- | trivance of shelters from gas and high explosive. Whatever criticisms may be offered, it is therefore apparent that Britain's preparations go further than ever before in peacetime and, within the limits of a voluntary and democratic system, ' cannot fall far short of the maximum possible^