AIR STRENGTH

Southland Times, Issue 22187, 1 December 1933, Page 7

AIR STRENGTH

BRITAIN’S INFERIORITY

DISARMAMENT EXAMPLE NOT FOLLOWED

DANGER OF ATTACK (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rcc. 7.0 p.m.) London, November 29. In the House of Lords the Duke of Sutherland asked whether the Government proposed to increase the air strength owing to the existing international situation. It was not desirable to rattle the sabre, he said, but the question must be considered purely from a defensive aspect. “Destroy London and you destroy England, for you destroy the heart and brain of the country,” he said. “Destroy Paris and France still lives; destroy Berlin and Germany still lives. Great Continental countries do not depend on their capitals for their existence. England depends on London for her very lifeblood.” Other nations had not followed Britain’s disarmament example. The British Government’s determination to continue to pursue a policy aimed at achieving effective disarmament in the air was repeated by the Minister for Air, Lord Londonderry. He added emphatically that they could not permit the continuance of Britain’s present inferiority. He said the policy the Government had consistently followed in connection with air disarmament was sufficient indication that it regarded the problem as of vital mom- I ent. When the war closed Britain was the first air power in the world. After the Armistice she dispersed the greater part of her vast air fleets until the country was to-day fifth only of the world's air powers in terms of first line strength. All countries had not made public statements of their current strengths, but official figures were available for France and Britain. In Britain’s case the figure was approximately 850 aeroplanes. In the French | Air Force the corresponding figure was about 1650. According to available information the Soviet Republic figure was between 1-100 and 1500, the United States between 1000 and 1100 and the I Italian between 1000 and 1100. It was clear that Britain’s example had unhappily elicited no response whatever in any quarter of the world, said the Minister. This was a path which could no longer be followed and they must, however reluctantly, abandon the policy of unilateral disarmament. The Government had made it plain in successive announcements at Geneva that it recognized the need for a one-power standard in the air for this country. It had offered to go to any length if other nations would do the same. It had indeed stated its willingness to consent to complete abolition of military and naval aviation provided only there could be devised an effective scheme for international control of civil aviation which would prevent all possibility of the misuse of civil aircraft for military purposes. It now appeared that there were nations which were not prepared to agree to such abolitiion. and it was impossible to deny that there were great practical difficulties in the way of such a far-reaching measure, but Britain could not accept a continuance of the present inferiority. If parity could not be secured by reductions elsewhere, then the converse of the proposition must follow, and there would be no option but to begin to build upwards while continuing efforts to secure international agreement in fixing parity at the lowest level to which other nations would subscribe. Lord Londonderry said they must hope it would be possible , to fix a first line strength for the principal air powers which would neither be a threat to the. peace of the world nor impose an intolerable financial burden. Britain and the Empire as a whole must be made safe in the air, but a race in air armaments should be avoided at all costs. Lord Cecil said that a real case for disarmament was .based on the fact that one or two air attacks in future would practically settle the whole course of war. No other country, was so exposed to an air attack as Britain. She would be crippled within 48 hours. The people demanded that everything should be done to abolish this dangerous air weapon. . The Duke of Sutherland said that an adequate defence force would enable Britain to stave off attackers on London. He hoped the present activities would obviate the possibility of any country delivering a knock-out. The debate was adjourned. COMMONS DISCUSSION GOVERNMENT'S POLICY SUPPORTED. (United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.10 p.m.) London, November 29. In the House of Commons RearAdmiral Sueter moved that attention be drawn to the “inadequacy of the present provision for air defence in Britain and the Empire.” He declared that Britain had reduced her air strength, but the gesture had not been followed by the rest of the world. Wing-Commander James moved an amendment affirming full support of the Government’s air policy. Mr Stanley Baldwin said that Britain could not stand alone in the present position in regard to defence, whether air, sea or land, and that ought to be made perfectly clear both in Britain and abroad. Mr Baldwin stressed the difficulties of the position and said that if it were now announced that Britain intended to quickly increase her air armaments, which were denied to Germany, how could the latter believe in our good faith? The Government valued the House’s support in pursuit of disarmament and its attempts to save the convention. He hoped the amendment would be supported. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr George Lansbury, contended that Lord Londonderry’s statement should be made in the House of Commons. Mr Baldwin had not told the House what the Ministry’s policy was. Labour, as a protest must therefore vote against the Government. Wing-Commander James’s amendment was carried by 151 votes to 31, then as a substantive motion by 139 to 30. NEW FIGHTING PLANES BRITAIN ORDERS FOURTEEN. (Rec. 6.50 p.m.) London, November 30. The Daily Express says , that the Air Ministry has ordered 14 fighting aeroplanes, each of which will carry a torpedo of three-quarters of a ton. They are being constructed at Humber and will be stationed on the coast to cooperate with the Navy. They will function in attacks on battleships, diving from a great height at speeds of over 200 miles an hour, and launch torpedoes. They will rise again like rockets beyond the reach of anti-air-craft guns when relieved of their weight. Some writers deduce from. Lora Londonderry’s speech that Britain will increase her air fleet ultimately by 800 machines unless France reduces hers. Lord Londonderry gave France 1650 aeroplanes compared with Britain s 850, and indicated that Britain would . build to the highest power. The Daily Telegraph says there is an end at last to the policy of one-sided aerial disarmament that reduced Britain to a state of helplessness never known.