AIRCRAFT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 48, Issue 14625, 27 March 1922, Page 5

AIRCRAFT.

| BRITAIN’S POLICY. •'11,,, | NEED FOR STRONG AIR FORCE* l-Tcss Association—Electric Tekmpli-Copyrigltfe (Received Monday, 0,5 a .m.) LONDON, Saturday, Ltigadier-Gencral Groves, an air ei> pert, in concluding a series of special articles in The Times, submits that the aims of British air policy should be: L To build rapidly and as economically as possible a striking an’ force for home defence, lost theheart of the Empire be open to a >. sudden direct attack from the air. ' 2. To provide the army and navv. with special air forces with essential efficiency. * To create a Royal Air Fore® “/ organisation to carry out the duties- > at present performed by the army and navy. % 1 * - r _ L To maintain and develop th@ aircraft industry. Civil aviation had suffered in tile past,” he writes, “because it had not' been definitely and clearly identified with National defence, ‘state grant was the only possible.’method of creating defensive air fleets, or exploiting and utilising, civil aviation, of which, the bulk of material and personnel should be promptly available at’ the ontbreak of war. “Wo arc faced with the intensive growth of air power throughout fie Continent and the world, and are not creating an adequate means to meet that force. “Nearly four centuries ago the great, sea captains laid the foundation of onr sea power and gave England peace and security. We no longer may look to sea. power to-protect us. We stand upon Hie threshold of a new age. !To us is given the greater task of building up a mightier force to safeguard the futureof the Empire.”—The Times.