BRITAIN'S AIR FLEET

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19311, 29 April 1937, Page 5

BRITAIN'S AIR FLEET

CONVOY FOR FOOD SHIPS HINT BY SIR S. HOARE LONDON, April 14. In the next war, food ships will approach Britain under a cloud of convoying war planes that will drive off raiding submarines, surface ships and aircraft. This development was hinted at by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Samuel Hdare, when launching the air-craft-carrier, Ark Royal, at Birkenhead to-day.

"The greatest interest in Britain's new aircraft-carriers," Sir Samuel said, "is the greater length of vision and activity that will be given to the Fleet to help Britain to solve the most difficult problem of defence with which she is faced—the getting of food supplies and raw materials safely to Britain in merchant ships. Aircraft-carriers will enable the Fleet to seek raiders with greater success."

The air convoy system was given a few tests in 1918, with encouraging results. Ships convoyed by aeroplanes were not attacked by submarines, which can be easily seen from the air, and which are also extremely vulnerable to air attack because they have little chance of counter-attacking. Policy of Decade

The Air Ministry's policy in the last decade has been in the direction of developing suitable convoy aeroplanes. Attention has been paid to long-range flying-boats. Co-operating with these flying-boats are fast torpedo-bombers which take off for a mass attack on raiders immediately observers in the fly-ing-boats wireless "the enemy's position. The Empire flying-boat scheme is linked up with the food convoy system. One reason why the British Government is anxious to have flying-boats instead of land aeroplanes in the Singa-pore-Brisbane section of the Empire air route is vulnerability of Singapore to blockade.

Singapore Island only grows enough food for 3 per cent of its population, and stored food deteriorates very rapidly in the tropical beat; therefore the fortress garrison and naval base staff 'must rely on a regular supply of sea-borne meat and flour from Australia.

A flying-boat service would establish the necessary bases and allow Britain and Australia to control this vital seaway from 'the air. The Atlantic air service which is. being organised will similarly be useful in convoying oil and food 'supplies from America.