The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1923. THE VALUE OF AIRCRAFT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1923, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1923. THE VALUE OF AIRCRAFT.

When discoursing upon the value of aviation recently, in New York, the Duke of Sutherland (Under-Secretary to the British Air Ministry) emphasised that through air defence and commercial flying Britain proposed to link the Dominions together, in the same way that Britain is linked to the Continent. He argued, and rightly so, that the strength of the Empire lies in the Dominions, which require quick inter-communication and the safety of the Imperial trade routes. Fortunately the policy of the British Government has undergone a change of late in relation to aviation, and the authorities appear to have arrived at the somewhat belated view that for protective purposes there must be a specialised service aircraft that can act as a striking force, while, civil machines can be used for bombing purposes as well as. for transport. From motives of economy the Government practically left the civil aviators to develop flying machines after the war, and that is why France, who left Britain saddled with the cost of the war, was able to go ahead and obtain a superiority in aeroplanes. Certainly, the Duke of Sutherland disclosed the crux of the question concerning the importance of aviation when he said that it had ended Britain’s insularity, a statement that undoubtedly implies an appreciation of the governing fact that the Empire’s first line of defence must now and henceforth be in the air. That view, in turn, involves the policy that in strength and preparedness the Imperial air force must at least be on the same scale as that hitherto maintained by the navy if the Empire is to be safeguarded against all probable eventualities. It is, therefore, reassuring to learn that Britain is now revising her air service plans, and on the breadth and completeness of that revision much will depend. It hardly seems possible that the citizens of the Empire will b 6 content unless the striking force created is sufficient both in numbers and equipment to meet the needs of the whole Empire. Admittedly the best aerial fleet that can be evolved will only be a supplement to naval defence and not a substitution, for it is on the cooperative action of both fleets that the safety of the Empire must depend. It is only to be expected that menace of huge submarines such as those designed by the eminent German naval architect (Professor Fl a nun) will be capable of effecting enormous damage by mines and torpedoes, even though such underwater craft dare not fight at close quarters, but their detection will necessitate, far more imperatively than ever before, the employment of an immense fleet of airplanes of high power and capable of carrying an increasingly large number of depth charges and powerful bombs. British naval architects and scientists will be able to evolve means for destroying these underwater vessels, but possibly not before the Latter have wrought great destruction. The safety of the trade routes on the ocean highways is a matter of vital importance, so that, although the menace may be afar off, yet there is always danger in delay. There is no knowing what Power may resort to hostilities against Britain, France or any other nation, and as Germany may to all intents and purposes supply engines of destruction to any customer willing to pay the price it is wise to be prepared for possible contingencies. In these days the flying force has to play the part of being eyes for the warships, and as it is necessary to cover all the highways of the oceans it stands to reason there must be a very large aerial force manned by highly trained intrepid men, and such a force takes a long time to train for the work it has to perform. It should be the policy of the British authorities to meet all requirements in regard to air defence to the full, just as much as in the case of warships and other naval units. The Duke of Sutherland recognises the need for a forward policy in aircraft, and the Empire naturally expects that his department will show commendable thoroughness in meeting the demand.