BATTLE IN THE SKY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 7

BATTLE IN THE SKY

GROWTH OF FRENCH FORTS. A GENERAL’S PREDICTION. Paris, Sept. 30. “Concrete has given birth to wings,” says General Debreney, Inspector-Gen-eral of Aviation in France, in an article in the Revue des Deux Mondes. He emphasises that the building of huge fortifications along France’s eastern frontier has forced battle into the sky. This, he says, opens infinitely wider prospects in aviation, demanding a new strategy. “Germany, in the war fov which she is preparing, will find it impossible to strike through Belgium, Switzerland, or the 'impregnable Maginot Line,” says General Debeney. He recalls Mr. Baldwin’s recent declaration that the British frontier is on the Rhine, but he points out that it must not be supposed that Britain will take over the defence of France, or will come to France's support where she is fighting. Therefore, France must keep out the invader. Air fights and ground battles must be co-related. Aircraft construetion must change their objectives and produce war aeroplanes of such power and such adequate protection as to turn the air fleets into forts which Will rain shot and shell from every angle. Aeroplanes must be freed from paralysing servitude to them aerodromes and must keep in touch with each other. ’ General Debeny adds that France needs a Minister of National Defence, combining the War, Navy, and Air Departments, to pronounce the decisive phrase: “Enough concrete and more wings.”