MOUNTING BURDEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19884, 10 March 1939, Page 6

MOUNTING BURDEN

AIR DEFENCES OVER £220,000,000 BILL ESTIMATES IN COMMONS RAPID RISE IX FORCES PRODUCTION OF PLANES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.15 pan. LONDON, March 9. The Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood, in introducing the air estimates, totalling £220,620,700, the largest estimates) in the history of the Air Ministry, reminded the House of Commons that in 1934 the air estimates were about £18,000,000. This year they were about 12 times greater than the air estimates in any year from 1929 to 1934 and roughly double the aggregate expenditure on the'three services in 1932 and 1933. This year’s increase alone, amounting to £74.000.000 -and' coming after a succession of increases, was equal to the total cost of all the defence services in 1913. This year’s heavy expenditure was mainly due to the large number of modern aircraft now coming into the squadrons, the cost of providing additional manufacturing capacity and the construction of new stations. It was accounted for too by the unexpectedly good progress in the speeding up of production and the unexpectedly enthusiastic response to the appeal for recruits. The great intake of recruits had caused them to increase the provision for the maximum personnel to 102,000. Stations anti Factories Larger deliveries of air frames and engines and the faster progress in the construction of stations and factories and in the expansion, of the balloon barrage scheme had also swollen the vote.

These vast estimates were not only an indication of the marked success of their efforts to raise the country’s strength in the air, but were a signal demonstration of the determination of the British peoples to make adequate provision for tiheir defence by the new air arm, the importance of which was now fully recognised. They were now spending £250,000 daily on thcproduction of aircraft alone. During the past year they had made considerable progress in the expansion of squadrons and their reequipment with the latest types. The number of first-line aircraft at home would be raised to 1750 by April 1, the date on which this programme was due for completion. Now Squadrons Established As regards the programme announced in May for a metropolitan air force of approximately 2370 aircraft by next March, good progress had been made in developing the necessary productive capacity and in recruiting the personnel and there was every prospect of its being completed within the .time promised.

The Minister added that four more squadrons had been established overseas during the year, making a total establishment of 30 squadrons. Seven additional squadrons would be formed in accordance with the programme already announced to increase the overseas strength to approximately 500 first-line aircraft.

To meet the requirements for the protection of oversea territories and trade the formation of\ certain additional squadrons had now been apt) roved.

The production of aircnaft was proceeding at a rapidly increasing rate and would be increased still further. In November he had said that the output would be at a rate 150 per cent higher than 12 months earlier. That 150 per cent increase already had been achieved and he hoped that the four-fold increase ir the rate of production which he had promised for May of 1940, would be achieved by next December. Machines From Overseas Already aircraft were arriving from the United States and delivery from Canada would commence next year, while a British mission was now ir, Australia studying the possibilities there. The labour forces engaged in the aircraft industry at home had increased by 40 per cent in the last six months. Eleven factories established under the shadow scheme were now in production. The Minister added that he could say with confidence that in the machines and types now being issued to the bomber fighter squadrons the country possessed what he believed were the 'best in the world. More Recruits Wanted Referring to the personnel, he said that he appealed last June for 31,G00 pilots, observers, airmen and boys before the end of this month. Ihe response had been excellent and the figure already had been passed last week. The quality of the recruits war, very good and fully worthy of the high traditions of the Royal Air Force. He wanted 20.000 more recruits for the Royal Air Force during the coming financial year. Recruitment for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was also proceeding

satisfactorily. Over 2500 men were already in training as pilots. They hoped to form sections of the reserve in Malaya. Hong Kong and East Africa. One thousand four hundred members of the Civil Air Guard were already in possession of A licenses and 3300 more were in training. Sir Kingsley Wood said that on the reserve slide' an important development had been ,a new scheme for the entry into class 111 ot ex-airmen. From July, when the scheme was launched,' till November last. 2300 men had been enlisted and since Novembdr the number had been more than doubled. Balloon Pannage Scheme For the Royal Air Force and its various reserves and auxiliaries they would, want in all some 75,000 more men in the coming year. Referring to the balloon defence scheme he'said; that the barrage could bo onerated in the London area if required. Balloon barrage squadrons were being actively organised in othei areas and the entire scheme should be in operation by the end ol the year. In passages devoted to strategical questions, Sir Kingsley Wood was at pains to counter the impression created by critics that, by the statement he made last November, he intended to .stress the importance of

defence at the expense of that of counter-attack. The Government’s policy/ he said, was to build up a balanced air force. He did not want any misconception. They had not abandoned reliance on counter-attack as an essential defence of air strategy. He thought there had been in the past a tendency to overstate the weakness of defence and recent developments had. indeed, reduced the superiority of offensive and increased the strength of defence, but a powerful striking force for counter-attack remained " strong deterrent to attack. All lie meant by the November statement on an increase in the lighter strength was that a counter offensive, to be successful, must start from a secure basis.