AERIAL DEFENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19628, 24 October 1933, Page 4

AERIAL DEFENCE

BRITISH PLANS Members of ths Liberal and Labour parties are critical of the Government's plan to build a fleet of 100 fast Interceptor fighting ’planes in the event of the failure of the Disarmament Conference, and describes it as so much “hot air” (6ays the London correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald"). It is claimed by those who oppose it at the scheme is not justified In Itself, and will lead only to mad International competition for air supremacy, which would be dangerous in these days when tempere are more easily raised than subdued. The Air Ministry is convinced, however, that something must soon be done to restore the prestige of the Royal Air Force, which, although equipped with sorr of the fastest and most efficient machines in the world, only takes fifth place among the air forces in actual strength. The loss of air records in recent weeks is relatively unimportant, but it is felt by the Air Mini-try to be essential that Britain's air defences should at least be adequate. Little hope of an International air treaty remains, and, in the face of the progressive policy of Prcnce, Italy, and Russia. It is held that the British Government would be ill-advised to delay for a moment longer than is necessary. The Cabinet will probably review the situation at an early date, end provision may be made in the next Budget for the first batch of new machines, including a squadron of powerful flying boats to work in conjunction with the Navy. The proposed Interceptor fighting planes would be fitted with Bchn eider Trophy Roll* Royoe engines, and would be capable of a speed of nearly 300 miles an hour, thus being the speediest machines in existence. Among British experts it is claimed that the lessons of the flight of the 24 Italian seapanes rom Rome to Chicago are much exaggerated, and that no good purpose would be served by emulating the flight. The Italian flying boats were designed for the Mediterranean, and could only take off and alight in smooth water. Moreover, they were all the lime dependent on weather co dttlona. By extraordinary luck, conditions were mostly favourable. As to the non-stop record established by the French aviators. Maurice Rossi and Paul Codes (5915 miles), the Air Mlnlstr. already possesses machines that could break it. if the cost was warranted It is r.ot quality that the RAF lacks at the moment, but quantity, and that Is th< problem ' which is causing the Government so I much uneasiness.