IN THE AIR

Southland Times, Issue 18975, 23 June 1923, Page 5

IN THE AIR

BRITAIN'S PREPARATIONS WONDERFUL TRIAL RESULTS (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 21. (Received June 22, 9.15 p.m.) The mystery surrounding a new equipment of the Royal Air Force has been lifted sufficiently to show that the new machines are such as would have staggered the imagination only a year ago. It includes machines which fly with full military equipment, men and munitions, at. a speed of 150 miles an hour, at a height of over 10,000 feet. They are capable of twisting and turning with extraordinary facility. Experts are gratified with the results of experiments in the Naval Department. The latest types of torpedo carriers are the Blackburn Dart and the Handley-Page Hamley, both single seaters with a speed of 100 miles. Several other types are ready, which it is considered will place England ahead of other powers in aircraft. The Daily Express states that at Weymouth, three out of six dummy torpedoes, hit the Queen Elizabeth, Valiant and another warship, during a night attack. TRIAL ATTACK ON BATTLESHIPS. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 22, 7.15 p.m.) In the presence of thousands of people lining the foreshore, six aeroplanes carried out a trial attack on the Atlantic fleet at Weymouth on Wednesday night, using aerial torpedoes. All the ships’ lights were put out, and the aeroplanes, though they flew low, had the greatest difficulty in spotting the target.

BRITISH AIR FORCE. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 22, 5.5 p.m.) Mr Stanley Baldwin in the House of Commons said he hoped next week to be able to announce the Government’s decision regarding the British air power. The Government had decided to appoint a joint committee of both Houses to report on the advisability of altering the customary period of the Parliamentary session.