AIR ATTACKS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 July 1934, Page 5

AIR ATTACKS

LONDON DEFENCES EFFICIENCY TO BE TESTED. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received Saturday, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, Friday. London Avill be subjected to intense air attacks to test the efficiency of the defences. Four hundred aeroplanes, including some of the Avorld’s fastest and most poAverful machines, as well as heavy night bombers, Avill be engaged. The attackers’ objective Avill be to pierce the ring of searchlights Avith anti-aircraft batteries firing dummy shells, and try and bomb the Air Ministry. Londoner are asked to cheerfully accept loss of sleep as a contribution to preventing a recurrence of the 1914-18 horrors. AIR DEFENCE. PRESS COMMENTS. COST ESTIMATE £20,000,000. LONDON, Friday. “The Times,” in a leader, says that the air programme, in contradistinction to fantastic demands in some quarters, is a strictly practicable, capable and well-balanced expansion. Mr BaldAvin clearly indicated that the programme Avas dictated by the failure of Britain’s example to secure international disarmament. “Its intention,” it states, “far from starting ncAV aerial competition, Avill probably pre\’ent this. Mr Baldwin regards a special Imperial Air Conference as superfluous, but surely there is a chance of extending co-operation beyond the present interchange of hall a dozen air force men Avitli the Dominions ? ’ ’

The Parliamentary correspondent of “The Times” says that it is estimated that the aerial programme Avill cost £20,000,000, very little of Avliieh Avill be spent in the present financial year beyond the four squadrons already promised. The Government proposes, during the time the scheme is being carried out, to complete the Avork on the air and naval base at Singapore, but the scheme is mainly for home defence. Cabinet’s broad aim is to devise protection for London and industrial areas from Yorkshire to Southampton. A considerable amount of the expenditure Avill be on neAv searchlights and anti-air-craft gun stations. The scheme Avill also necessitate neAv aerodromes. One of the first steps Avill be an extension of CraiiAvell. There must also be an increase in personnel," including 200 pilots yearly. It has already been decided to reopen the flying school at Digby. The “Daily Mail’s” political correspondent says that many members of the House of Commons consider that the GoA r ernment has shirked the task of building an adequate Air Force. Only 37 neAv squadrons, namely, 444 machines, Avill be constructed in uncertain mnnbcrs in five years. The “Manchester Guardian,” in a leader, says:—The Government has spoken Avith tAvo voices for months, one giving lip service to disarmament and the other displaying contempt for such aspirations. Half the Government has throAvn up the sponge and the other half Avill be curbed by fear of bankruptcy. MOTIONS OF CENSURE. BY LABOUR PARTY. LONDON, Thursday. The Labour Party has decided to submit censure motions on the nerv air defence policy both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, on 30th July.