AERIAL ACTIVITIES

Southland Times, Issue 17660, 18 February 1916, Page 5

AERIAL ACTIVITIES

BRITAIN'S AIR SERVICE AND MEANS OP DEPENCE AGAINST BAIDS initial unpreparedness admitted IMPROVEMENTS BEING RAPIDLY EFFECTED SERVICE AT THE FRONT UNSURPASSED HOSTILE AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, February 16. Receiver! February IT, 5.5 p.m. The House of Commons was crowded to hear the discussion on the Address-in-Ilcply. Mr Joynson Hicks (Conservative) in moving an amendment “That the House regrets that the Speech did not mention proposals for placing the airservice on a firm basis.” said that the new arm had revolutionised warfare. Mr Churchill, in March, 1914. referred to the swarm of hornets which would attack any visiting Zeppelin. "Where were they At present our aimen on the west front were outclassed. A letter from a member at the front describes the German machines cruising slowly over our lines, and treating with contempt our air-craft guns. The air service should be tinder the control of one man, and it was absolutely necessary to •know who was responsible for the air service. Lord French had quite enough to do without tins. When the Zeppelins were last here Ihqy passed along the coast in broad daylight, flying very low, but our anti-aircraft corps was still armed with guns used in the Boer war. They were utterly useless. A strong offensive was much better than defensive warfare.

Mr Tennent, replying, said that the airservice was constantly developing, and was intended for offensive, not for defensive purposes. The most that could be done was to protect vulnerable points in such a way that the enemy’s losses would be so great as to act as a deterrent. He would not give an assurance whether the Government had grasped the gravity of the situation, but would simply state that the action the Government had taken hud made strides towards providing proper defences. But a system of defence for every part of the British Isles could never be complete. From to-day the Navy would deal with all hostile air-craft attempting to reach the country, and the army with aircraft which reached our shores. A standing naval and military committee would be formed to co-ordinate the questions of the supply of materials. Admiral Sir Percy Scott would be transferred to the War Office in command of air gunnery. The Ministry of Munitions would be responsible for the armament for aerial defence. Steps had been taken to give more adequate warnings of raids. He protested against the panic which the debate endeavoured to create, and assured the House that everything was being done to produce more aeroplanes, guns, and pilots, for meeting a grave menace. The Rt, Hon. H. L, Samuel said that the restrictions in regard to lighting practicaly applied to the whole of England. The system of giving warning was nearly complete, and they had also given greater liberty to tiie press in reporting tlie actual circumstances of the raids. The whole world should know the truth about theseI’murderous 1 ’murderous outrages. Mr Balfour said that the progress of the flying force had been prodigious. Everybody knew we were still behindhand, but orders had been given, and wherever possible the manufacturing possibilities of Britain, the Allies, and' America had been used to the utmost. They were not yet supplying the full orders. Everyone desired aggressive action, especially the Government, but this required powerful machines which were difficult to obtain quickly. Every nerve was being strained to the utmost to get the necessary guns for air defence. It was utterly misleading to say that the Government had shown any neglect. The improvements would go on. He was sorry we had not developed a lighter-than-air ship, not so much for aggression or defence, as for scouting. The Germans had an advantage in this matter, which we were doing our best to remove. The Admiralty had considered the possibility of Zeppelins partaking in an action with the fleet. Mr Bonar Law said that as a member of the War Council he had special sources of information. He had made enquiries and was surprised there were not greater defects in our aid ervices, since we were so unprepared for the kind of struggle we were now engaged in. The greatest need was for engines. He recently visited Paris and took the opportunity to find out the position of the French air service, and came to the conclusion that the British service at the front was as good as, if not better than, any other combination. Mr Joynson Hicks withdrew his amendment.