Not Frankenstein Monster

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 508, 10 November 1928, Page 1

Not Frankenstein Monster

BRITAIN’S AIR DEFENCE FORCES

“Must Insure Against Remotest Risks”

(United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service)

Received 12.5 p.m. LONDON, Friday. “HTE are not making these defence preparations because ff we believe war likely, but Britain must insure against the remotest risks. We do not want competition in air armaments. We do not wish to create a Frankenstein monster that will destroy its creators.”

The Secretary for Air, Sir Samuel Hoare, made this statement when responding to the toast to the Imperial Forces at the Lord Mayor’s banquet. Sir Samuel said that the recent aitdefence operations showed that defence squadrons operated with speed and precision worthy of the London Fire Brigade.

“My view,’’ he continued, “is that there should be an agreement between the great Powers of Europe on the basis of air equality, without which there are grave risks of a. struggle for supremacy that will beggar the taxpayer and may eventually destroy European civilisation.” He was glad to announce that the Air Ministry had made arrangements with Italy and Persia, removing difficulties in the way of a regular air service to India, which will begin early next spring. The Air Secretary regretted that Flight-Lieutenant D’Arcy Greig, by a

fraction of a second missed establishing a new record. “I wish him luck when in due course he makes another attempt,” he said. GREIG’S SPEED ATTEMPT ITALIAN’S CONGRATULATIONS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) ROME, Thursday. Major di Bernardi, who won the Schneider Cup for Italy in 1926, has congratulated Flight-Lieutenant d’Arcy Greig on his recent unofficial speed record. The Italian airman said he expected a speed of 372 miles an hour would be reached. He was now carrying out tests on Lake Varese, and he hoped to establish another world record before the next race for the Schneider Cup.