PRINCIPAL AIR POWERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22125, 1 December 1933, Page 9

PRINCIPAL AIR POWERS

BRITAIN ONLY FIFTH VAST FLEETS DISPERSED EXAMPLE NOT FOLLOWED (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright.) RUGBY, November 29. The British Government’s determination to continue to pursue a policy aimed •t achieving effective disarmament in the air was repeated in the House of Lords by the Marquess of Londonderry (Air Minister). He added emphatically that they could not permit the continuance of Britain’s present inferiority. Lord Londonderry said the policy that the Government had consistently followed in connection with air disarmament was a sufficient indication that it regarded the problem as one ot vital moment. When the war closed Britain was the first air Power in the world. After the armistice she dispersed the greater part of her vast air fleets, until the country was to-day the fifth only of the world’s air Powers in terms of first-line strength. All countries had not made public statements of their current strengths, but the official figures were available for France arid Britain. In Britain’s case the figure was approximately 850 aeroplanes, .tyhile in the French air force the corresponding figure was about 1650. According to the available information the Soviet Republic’s figure was between 1400 and 1300, and that of the United States between 1000 and 1100, and of Italy between 1000 and 1100,

It was clear that Britain’s example had unhappily elicited no response whatever in any quarter of the world. This was a path which could no longer bo followed, and they must, however reluctantly, abandon the policy of unilateral disarmament. The Government had made it plain in successive announcements at Geneva. that it recognised the need for a one-power standard in the air for this country. It had offered to go to any length if other nations would do the same. It had indeed stated its willingness to consent to the complete abolition of: military and naval aviation provided only that there could be devised an effective .scheme for the international control of civil aviation, which would prevent all possibility of the misuse of civil aircraft for military purposes. If; now appeared that there were nations which were not prepared to agree to such abolition, and it was impossible to .deny that there were great practical difficulties in the way of such a ' farreaching measure, but Britain could not accept continuance' of the present inferiority. If parity could not be secured by reductions elsewhere then the converse of the proposition must follow, and there would be no option but to begin to build upwards, while continuing the efforts to secure ihternational agreement in fixing parity at the lowest level to which the other nations would subscribe. , Lord Londonderry said they must hope that ft would be possible to fix the first-line strength for the principal air Powers which would neither be a threat to the-peace of the world nor impose an intolerable financial burden. Britain and the Empire as a whole must be made safe in the air, but a race in air armaments should be avoided at all costs. ': ;

VULNERABILITY OF LONDON. LONDON, November 29. {Received Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.) In the House of Lords the Duke of Sutherland asked whether the Government proposed to,increase its air strength owing to the existing international situation. It was not desirable to rattle the sabre, but the question must be considered purely from a defensive. aspect. “Destroy London and you destroy England, for you destroy the heart and brain of the country. Destroy Paris, but France still lives. Destroy Berlin, and Germany still lives.- Great Continental countries do not depend on their capitals for existence. England depends on London for her very life blood.” Other nations had not followed our disarmament example. Viscount Cecil said that the real case for disarmament was based on the fact that one or two air attacks in the future would practically settle the whole course of a war. No other country was so exposed to air attack as Britain, and she could be crippled within 48 hours. The people demanded that everything be done to abolish this dangerous air weapon. The Duke of Sutherland said that an adequate defence force would enable them to stave off attackers on London. He hoped the present activities would obviate the possibility of any country delivering a knock-out blow. The debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS DISCUSSION. LONDON, November 30. (Received Nov. 30, at 9 p.m.) ][n the House of Commons Rearadmiral Sueter moved that attention be drawn to the “ inadequacy of the present provision for the air defence of Britain and the Empire.” He declared that we had reduced our, air strength, but the gesture had not been followed by the rest of the world. Wing-commander James moved an amendment affirming full support of the Government’s air policy, Mr Stanley Baldwin said: “Britain camnot stand alone in her present position in regard to defence, whether in the air or on the sea or land, and that ought to be made perfectly clear both in , Britain and abroad.” Mr Baldwin stressed the difficulties of the position and said that if it was now announced that Britain intended quickly to increase her air armaments, which were denied to Germany, bow could the latter believe in our good faith. The Governmeht valued the House’s support in pursuit of disarmament, and the attempts to save the convention. He hoped the amendment would be supported, Mr G. Lansbury contended that the Marquess of Londonderry’s statement should be made in the House of Commons. Mr Baldwin had not told the House what the Ministry’s policy was and Labour, as a protest, must therefore vote against the Government. Wing-commander James’s amendment was earned by 151 to 31, and then as the substantive motion by 139 to 30.

FIGHTING PLANES ORDERED. EACH TO CARRY TORPEDO. LONDON, November 30. (Received Nov, 30, at 9 p.m.) The Daily Express says that the Air Ministry has ordered 14 fighting planes, each to carry a torpedo of three-quarters of a ton. They are being constructed at Humber and will he stationed on the coast to co-operate with the navy They will function in attacks on battleships, diving from a great height at speeds of over 200 miles an hour and launching torpedoes. They will rise again like rockets beyond reach of anti-aircraft guns when relieved of the weight. Some writers deduce from the Mar* quess of Londonderry’s speech. that Britain will increase her air fleet ultimately by 800 machines, unlees Franc© reduce#

her fleet. The Marquess of Londonderry gave France 1050 aeroplanes, compared with Britain’s 850, and indicated that Britain would build to the highest Power. The Daily Telegraph says: “There is an end at last to a policy of one-sided aerial disarmament that reduced Britain to a state of helplessness never before known.”