AIR DEFENCE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 December 1933, Page 5

AIR DEFENCE

BRITAIN’S POSITION STRENGTHENING IMPERATIVE. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, Thursday. “Destroy London and you destroy Englafid, for you destroy the heart and brain of the country. Destroy Paris and Prance still lives; destroy Berlin and Germany still lives. The great Continental countries do not depend on their capitals for existence. England depends on London for her very lifeblood,” said the Duke of Sutherland in a speech in the House of Lords, in the course of which he asked whether the Government proposed to increase Britain’s air strength owing, to the existing international situation. -

“It is not desirable to rattle the sabre, but the question must.be considered purely from the defensive aspect,” he said. “Other nations have not followed our disarmament example.”

The British Government’s determinaticyi to continue to pursue -a policy aimed at achieving effective disarmament in the air was repeated by the Marquess of Londonderry, Air Minister, in the course of his reply to the Duke of Sutherland. The Marquess of Londonderry declared emphatically, however, that they could not* permit a continuance of Britain’s present inferiority. Lord Londonderry said that the policy the Government had consistently followed in connection with air disarmament was sufficient indication that they regarded the problem as of vital moment. —Official Wireless. BRITAIN’S HELPLESSNESS. LONDON, Thursday.

Some writers deduce from Lord Londonderry’s speech that Britain will increase her air fleet ultimately by 800 machines unless France reduces her strength. Ljrd Londonderry gave France 1650 aeroplanes, compared with Britain’s 850, and indicated that, Britain would build to the highest power. The “Daily Telegraph” says there is an end at last to the period of one-sid°d aerial disarmament that reduced Britain to a state of helplessness never contemplated. The “Daily Express” says the Air Ministry has ordered fourteen fight’ng aeroplanes. Each will carry a torpedo weighing three-quarters of a ton. They are being constructed at the Humber, and will be stationed on the coast to co-operate with the Navy. Their function will bo to attack battleships, diving from a great height at speeds of over 200 miles an hour, then launching the torpedoes. They will rise again like rockets beyond - the reach of anti-air-craft guns when relieved of the weight of the torpedo. MANY DIFFICULTIES. LONDON, Thursday. In the House of Commons, Rear-Ad-miral Murray F. Sueter (C.) moved that attention be drawn to “the inadequacy of the present provision for the air defence of Britain and the Empire.” He declared that Britain had reduced her strength, but the gesture had not been followed by the rest of the world. Wing-Commander A. W. H. James (C.) moved an amendment affirming full support of the Government’s air policy. . , Mr Stanley Baldwin said. Britain could not stand alone in the present position in regard to defence, whether in the air, on sea, or on land, and that ought to be perfectly clear, both in Britain and abroad.

Mr Baldwin stressed the difficulties of the position, and said if it wore now announced that Britain intended quickly to increase her air armaments, which Avas denied to Germany, how could the latter believe in our good faith? The Government A r alued the House’s support in the pursuit of disarmament and the attempts to save the convention. He hoped the amendment Avould be supported. Mr George Lansburv (Lab.), . contended that Lord Londonderry’s statement should be made in the House of Commons. Mr BaldAvin had not told the House what the Ministry’s policy was. Labour as a protest must therefore vote against the Government. Wing-Commander James’ amendment Avas carried by 151 \ r otcs to 31; then as a substantWe motion by 339 A 7 otes to 30.