ROYAL AIR FORCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 10

ROYAL AIR FORCE

THE EXPANSION PROGRAMME SEVENTY-ONE NEW SQUADRONS (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY. March 8. The Air Estimates for 1936 amount to £43,490,600, which exceeds the original estimates for 1935 by £19.639,500 and the final estimate for the year by £12,488,500. These increases, states a Government memorandum, are necessary to finance further stages of the expansion scheme which is due to be substantially completed by the end of the financial year 1936. The Estimates for the fighting services, together with the Naval and Army Estimates, published earlier this week, show that the expenditure estimates for 1936 are up to £20,544,500. Details of the Air Estimates show that this year the pay roll of the Royal Air Force is estimated at £6,518,000, the Estimate including a Supplementary Estimate of £5,002,000. The provision for technical and warlike stores, including experimental and research services, ' is £18,491,000, compared with £11,152.000 in 1935. The Estimates show that civil aviation is also to receive more, the year's estimate being £760,000, compared with £595,500 in 1935.

The programme of expansion begun last May envisages the addition of 71 new squadrons to the metropolitan air strength by March 31, 1937, bringing the total strength of the force in Britain to 123 squadrons. The present Estimates provide for the substantial completion of this programme. Four new auxiliary squadrons are to be formed, and five regular squadrons, at present allotted for army co-operation, are to be reorganised to provide seven squadrons. The increased first line establishment resulting from these measures will provide a total of 129 squadrons at home, of which 20 will be non-regular, with a strength in the first line aircraft of approximately 1750. The execution of this revised programme, including provision of full war reserves, will extend into 1937 and 1938.

These figures, which are exclusive of the fleet air arm, compare with 53 squadrons and 580 first line aircraft on April 1, 1935. The existing 25 squadrons overseas will be maintained during 1936 in a first line strength of approximately 270 first line aircraft, although the formation by 1939 of a further 12 squadrons for service overseas has been approved. THE DEFENCE PROPOSALS LONDON, March 6. (Received March 8, at 9 p.m.) " Britain's defence proposals were received without a word of fear or anxiety throughout Europe because the people realise that our forces would never be used except to resist aggression," said Mr Neville Chamberlain at Birmingham, referring to criticisms of the proposals as not defined and not specific. He said that critics thought that the Government should say exactly how many men, tanks, guns, ships, and aeroplanes, including the speed and range of the lastnamed, we proposed. Mr Chamberlain explained that such answers would satisfy the curiosity of many countries besides Britain. Moreover, such information was impossible with conditions changing every day. While we were paying attention to armaments new inventions and discoveries so transformed problems that they had repeatedly to alter their plans. He added: " Long before the present ideas are carried out it is almost certain that new conditions will enforce further changes. We are determined to build up an Air Force of such terrific striking power, and capable of inflicting such terrific damage, that anyone would think long before starting hostilities. We arc notexpecting war and hope it may never come, but we must be prepared for eventualities."