LORD TEDDER URGES BRITAIN TO BE STRONG IN THE AIR

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1949, Page 5

LORD TEDDER URGES BRITAIN TO BE STRONG IN THE AIR

Nothing On Land Or Sea Surface Effective Till Air Is Held

LONDON, Nov. 7 (Rec. 6 pm).—A warning against Britain relying solely on American skill to give British air power a “punch,” has been made by the Chief of the Air Staff, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder. He apparently referred to Brit-.

ain’s lack of new long-range; heavy bombers. The United States and Britain are now eon-I ferring on a loan of up to 200! I’29’s to Britain. Britain’s post-i war production has been concentrated on jet fighters. ; “To put our punch into the hands | of our best friends in the world, which ; the Americans are, would be, 1 think, something that should not be done,” said Lord Tedder. He continued: “Blitz tactics are probably more tempting than ever before. “Democracies,” he said, "are not aggressors, and when attacked are 'relatively unprepared,' and so we must somehow gain time at the outset of a war.”

1 On the possibilities of a “push- : button” war, Lord Tedder said: “It i may come in some form in the future, : but not now and not in lhe immedi- • ate future. Personally I am quite ' sure, as far as we are concerned, that ! a principle which has been proved in ■ the last war is true now, and will rei main true for years—that is in war nothing on the surface of the land or the sea can fight effectively unless ! and until the situation 'in the air is under firm control. It is essential that we should always remember that. In these modern days, war is total! It is a unity involving every single branch of national life. Defence is not merely a matter of guns, ships and aircraft. Every man and woman in the country has his or her share in the responsibility.”—Special N.Z.P.A., Correspondent.