BRITAIN’S PERIL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 25 (Supplement)

BRITAIN’S PERIL.

French General Give* Advice. BOMBING ATTACKS. 'T'HAT BRITAIN’S aerial defence can **■ only be organised on the Continent was one of the main points in an important statement by General Denain, the French Air Minister (states the London “Daily Mail."). General Denain speaks as a practical airman. He is an experienced pilot, who saw service in the air on the W estern Front during the Great War. He asserted that: A powerful air force is one of the best means of defence in war to-day. Aerial aggression is the most dangerous of all. For bombing attacks in the next war, commercial aeroplanes could be employed. Means of Defence. In his statement with regard to Brifc ain’s position in the light of the tremendous progress made in aerial development. General Denain said to a correspondent in Paris: “ The protection of a territorial zone against aerial aggression can only be effected if there exists for the country attacked a 1 covering zone.’ “In this zone light defence forces and an organisation of intercepting units, useful both for active and passive defence, can be placed. “ The extent of such a zone should be greater in proportion as the attacking aeroplanes—that is, the enemy s bombing machines —are fast. “ Thus, with the present speeds of big machines, the defence of British territory against aerial attack coming from the Continent can only be organised on this continent itself. “Poison Gas.*’ “ It should not be forgotten that an excellent—if not the best —means of defence is the creation of a powerful air force. This should be well trained and judiciously situated, thus creating for the eventual enemy the fear that an attack on the enemy’s part would certainly provoke reprisals which would take place at once and be at least equally forceful. “ If—defying treaties—a nation has the audacity to make a surprise attack in peace time, it can be guessed that this nation will not confine its operations to the armed forces of the opposing country, but will try to seize every possible advantage, even by attacks on urban centres, where incendiary bombs and poison gas can cause frightful damage. “ Such an attack could be carried out by commercial aeroplanes having previously undergone changes which are easy to effect, and would enable these machines to carry loads of bombs.” Nation’s Fate. General Denain plainly inferred that in future wars the principal battlefield will not be on land, but in the air, with the fate of nations decided by the strength of their aerial fleets. “ The conditions of war in the air have been profoundly transformed,” he said, “ since 1918. Aviation was then only an auxiliary arm to the forces on land and sea. Air forces are now also capable of leading and carrying out independent operations in the air, and will play in future conflicts, and above all in the first hours of these conflicts, an immense part. “ These new possibilities of aviation are particularly noticeable with the appearance of the newest types of machines. Thus there are big aeroplanes capable of carrying nearly a ton of bombs more than 600 miles from their starting point at a speed of more than 180 miles an hour. Bombing Planes. “ Other aeroplanes exist with speeds of nearly 220 miles an hour, which are useful both for reconnoitring and for bombing. Fighter aeroplanes, which will soon be armed with small cannon, can now reach a speed of 230 an hour, and this will soon be surpassed. “ As far as bombing planes are concerned their speed has doubled, and the loads they can carry and their radius of action has trebled since the last war. “It should be remembered that this increase in speed favours the heavy bombing machines rather than the fighter types. The difference in speeds between these two, once 33 per cent, tends to get less, and is now only 25 per cent. “ I do not hesitate to affirm that the country which is not on guard can do practically nothing to ward off formations of aircraft which suddenly invade the country from the skies. “ The territories of countries in Central and Western Europe can be reached by enemy forces in a few hours, and one can thus judge the perils of a nation which is not very vigilant against aerial attack—undoubtedly the most dangerous method of attack that exists.”