BRITISH ARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23175, 22 October 1938, Page 13

BRITISH ARMS

LABOUR ANXIOUS FULL SPEED URGED GUARANTEES SOUGHT MOVE IN PARLIAMENT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 21, 0.25 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 21 On the resumption of Parliament on November 1 the Opposition, supported by sections of the Government parties, will fight strenuously for guarantees that rearmament and other defensive measures will be pressed on at the fullest speed, says the Daily Telegraph. The political and industrial branches of the Labour and Socialist Parties will meet next week to formulate details of the Opposition attitude.

OUTPACED BY NAZIS DILEMMA FOR BRITAIN VULNERABILITY TO ATTACK AIR DEFENCE WEAKNESS . . LONDON, Oct. 17 One horn of tho dilemma on which the British Government finds itself after tho Munich settlement is to redraw foreign policy in order to meet strategic shifts in the balance of power in Europe, which is' now generally regarded as being tilted against Britain and France. The other horn is to create a defensive machine which will neutralise, as much as possible, any threat that Germany's new strategic gains may hold for Imperial interests, and by its strength, to enable diplomacy to weld a new foreign policy. This policy must aim either at restoring the balance of power or, at least, enable Britain and France to maintain and strengthen their respective Imperial positions. Startling Revelations

The hard facte should not be disguised, since they are well known to every foreign Power. They are that the Czech crisis revealed startingly that, with the present distribution of European armaments, Britain and France are outpaced by Germany and Italy in practically all branches except the Navy. Both Britain and Franco have become so highly vulnerable that it is plain that no foreign policy alone can put them out of danger, since the only thing that can do that is a tremendous national effort. What actually was Britain's and France's true air and anti-air defensive strength which may have proved vital in the early stages of a war, no one knows. No Cabinet Minister pretends that it was adequate. Consequently, estimates vary, but it seems a very conservative statement to make that in all the branches of air defence. Britain was not half ready, that in some branches she was not one-quarter ready, and that in others she was entirely unprepared. Shortage ol Guns

For instance, it is estimated that at least 2000 of tho latest type of antiaircraft guns are necessary to defend Britain, but it is believed that Britain possesses barely 100. Even if 500 had been available, it is obvious that Britain would have fought under the most dangerous handicap from the outset. It is almost incredible, but nevertheless accepted as a fact, that Franco's air defence ifi weaker than Britain's, France's main strength being her Army, which is still regarded as tho finest in Europe.

Regarding the rate of production of aircraft, Germany is commonly supposed to have produced at the rate of 600 machines a month before acquiring a share of Czechoslvoakia's armament works, which it is expected that Germany will now enjoy. The British output is estimated at between .'SOO and 400 machines a month, and France is thought to turn out about 200 a month.

The Manchester Guardian states: "It would appear that, only by casting our ideas of air strength in a vastly more heroic mould than anything the Government has so far planned, can we hope to give ourselves the security that we need, either to save our own skins in isolation, or to join with others in . asserting the rule of law against domination by force."