GERMAN MONOPOLY IN THE AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1926, Page 9

GERMAN MONOPOLY IN THE AIR

TENTACLES CIRCLE WHOLE CONTINENT SIGNIFICANCE FROM THE MILITARY STANDPOINT COLOSSAL EXPANSION AIDED BY GOVERNNMENT (Press Association —Copyright.) Received Nov. 2, 8.20 p.m. London, Nov. 1. How Germany has made gigantic strides in commercial aviation until the whole of Northern Europe is virtually monopolised by German machines under a single State-controlled organisation, is revealed by Brigadier-General Percy Groves in the Daily Express. The writer emphasises that the German aircraft industry is flourishing because, in addition to supplying Europe, German machines are flying in Holland, Sweden, Russia, Austria, Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. The tentacles of German air transport are reaching out from Moscow, Kabul and Vladivostok to Peking. The driving force behind this colossal expansion is money and propaganda. During the year 1925-26 the Government subsidy amounted to a quarter of a million sterling. German aviation is supported by direct and indirect grants from the States, cities and towns, many of which have presented aerodromes. Banks, oil and shipping interests all contribute. The whole aviation scheme is administered by the Ministry of Transport, and in addition there is a supreme council supervising aerial organisations such as flying clubs, flying schools and air leagues and councils. Their composition indicates that both commercial and civil aviation is to be fostered as fully as possible and it has a military significance also because the War Office and army commands are directly represented. The activities include th© organisation and use of the Press, platform, poster, cinema and other channels for propaganda.