THE FIGHTING SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20088, 3 May 1927, Page 9

THE FIGHTING SERVICES

ROYAL AIR FORCE. LORD JELLICOE ON DISARMAMENT. (British Official News.) (Frees Association—By Tell graph- -Copyright.) RUGBY, May 1. At the Royal Academy banquet last night Prince Henry was the principal guest. Several Cabinet Ministers attended, including the Air Minister (Sir Samuel Hoarc).

Responding to the toast of the fighting services, Sir Samuel said that in the past four years the Royal Air Force had doubled its strength in regard to the number of squadrons. Its training was more intense, and its equipment more powerful, and although it was only a little more than half the size of the greatest air force in Europe, its development was satisfactory. He referred in particular to the work being done by the Air Force on the North-west Frontier of India, which has seldom been quieter. The Air Force was co-operating usefully there in defence work in wild and mountainous country, in which flying would have been impossible a few years ago.

Lord Jellicoe, replying for the Navy, referring to the disarmament question, said that he entirely agreed with the terms of the answer sent by the British Government to President Coolidgc’s great message calling another conference on disarmament. It could not be forgotten that the geographical position of the British Empire and the length -of the Empire's communications put Britain in a peculiar position in regard to naval disarmament. It was different from that of every other country in the world.