ROYAL AIR FORCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23500, 14 May 1938, Page 13

ROYAL AIR FORCE

EXPANSION PROGRAMME RIGHT UP TO SCHEDULE STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT REPLY TO RECENT CRITICISM (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, May 12. The House was crowded for the debate on the Air Ministry vote. Lord Winterton, who was recently appointed deputy in the House of Commons to Lord Swinton (Air Minister), intervening in the debate at an early stage, met the Opposition’s attack on the air programme by the disclosure of what he described as “ a new programme,” which “ entirely overshadows the programme we undertook three years ago, which itself was absolutely unprecedented in peace time.” As an indication of the scale of the new programme, the Minister mentioned that, in personnel, an expansion of no fewer that 40,000 officers and men would be required, bringing the personnel of the Royal Air Force to 110,000. First Line Strength Lord Winterton gave an assurance that the idea that the execution of the programme was greatly in arrears was absolutely mistaken. The scheme under which a first line air strength of 1750 was to be reached by next April was all up to schedule. That strength would certainly be reached fay the date stipulated, and, he believed, considerably earlier. The position regarding reserves was also satisfactory. Moreover, the scale on which factories had been planned and orders placed would make it possible, if the necessary labour was available, rapidly to extend the output to meet the immense demands of the new programme. The Ministry had informed the Government that, given the necessary equipment, it was estimated that the output of aeroplanes and engines could be increased by well over 50 per cent, in the next 12 months, and during the succeeding year could be increased to figures three times their present size. Production of Engines Lord Winterton declared emphatically that the Royal Air Force, as a whole, was not behind other air forces in the up-to-dateness and newness of its machines. The existing types were satisfactory, and the new types were even better. *The production of engines was increasing rapidly, and in this connection the “ shadow scheme ” had fully justified itself. There was now a vast field of actual and potential production. Dealing with purchases from the United States, Lord Winterton said it must be remembered that production in the United States was small compared with that of the United Kingdom. It was only certain types —mostly for training—that might be bought. Vast Expansion Required More important in connection with the experts' mission recently sent across the Atlantic was the possibility of building up a large war potential in Canada.

. He said there was no real hope of aircraft being turned o’lt by mass production in the sense some people used the phrase, nor did those methods exist for such work in any other country. He could say that the apprehension that the firms in the aircraft industry were not full up with orders was now unjustified. The industry was in a much better position to-day than three years ago to undertake the vast expansion required. The numbers employed had increased from 30,000 to 90,000. Lord Winterton, referring to the programmes of foreign Powers, gave an assurance that the British programme had been framed in the light of the best estimate as to the large scale of forces which could be brought against Britain in war. It was designed as a formidable deterrent against aggression,, and an effective defence in the event of attack. The defence of Britain must be guarded as a whole. They were carrying out rearmament on a vast scale. Extensions, refitments, rebuildings, and re-equipment in all three services involved a cost approaching astronomical proportions. SIR HUGH SEELY’S VIEWS SYSTEM A COMPLETE FAILURE LONDON, May 12, Sir Hugh Seely, moving a reduction of the salary of the Air Ministry by £IOO as a protest, said Germany at present had 8000 aeroplanes, of which 3500 were frontline, and would, within a year, have 6000 first-liners, whereas Britain, two years hence, would have only 2700. Germany. was making between 500 and 600 aeroplanes a month. Britain at the end of the war in 1918 was capable of turning out 30,000 a year, but such output was impossible to-day without a Ministry of Supplies apart from aeroplanes. Every Air Force station was demanding four times the available supply of guns, and the system under which We were working was a complete failure. The conferences of the committees sitting in the Air Ministry were unwieldy. No one anpeared able to take decisions. One firm was obliged .to borrow £1,000,000 from the bank owing to delays in getting money from the Air Ministry. Smaller firms were more greatly hampered for the same reason.

Sir H. Seely declared that manufacturers had been threatened with the Official Secrets Act, and even the loss of their contracts if they disclosed State affairs. When Lord Winterton said the Royal Air Force machines compared more than favourably with those of other countries, Mr Churchill interrupted: “Absolutely untrue.” Mr Attlee said: We not only have not got parity with Germany, but we are getting further from parity every week Lord Winterton’s proposals will not bring us even by 1940 to the position of Germany today. The Royal Air Force is largely equipped with obsolete or obsolescent machines. Messrs Moore, Brabazon, and Perkins stressed the advantage of manufacturing aircraft in the dominions, where the works would be safe, whereas the works in England could be destroyed by the enemy. Lord Winterton, replying, said he was impressed by the volume of

opinion in favour of manufacture in the dominions, and would fully investigate the possibilities. Sir Hugh Seely’s motion was defeated by 229 votes to 131. LABOUR MOTION TABLED INQUIRY CALLED FOR LONDON, May 12. The Labour Party has decided to table the motion—“ The opinion of the House is that the growing public concern regarding the state of the air defences and the administration of the departments concerned calls for a complete and searching indenendent inquiry.” PRESS COMMENT ON POSITION STRONG CRITICISM REFLECTED LONDON, May 13. (Received May 14, at 1.30 a.m.) The Associated Press’s political correspondent states that, immediately after the closing of the debate, moves occurred among all parties designed to demand an immediate inquiry into the air defence plans. The Government’s majority on the major issue was the smallest for a considerable time, the division lists revealing many Conservative abstentions. A further debate on May 19 is now being pressed for from all sides, and pressure is being brought to bear to form a secret committee of all parties to share defence secrets and advise in national interests. The Government emerged very badly from the debate, and the morning press throughout the country reflects the strong criticism and dissatisfaction with the position to date. The Daily Telegraph, in a leader, says: “ Past failures can be forgiven, but we cannot afford any more miscalculations to frustrate the fulfilment of plans which are so essential for national security.” The Daily Mail says: “ The Government’s statements, designed to allay anxiety, only resulted in increased apprehension."