OUR ASCENDANCY IN THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2775, 19 May 1916, Page 5

OUR ASCENDANCY IN THE AIR

STATEMENTS IN HOUSE OF

COMMONS MR. P EMBERTON BILLING'S ' POSITION TALKS TO EMPTY BENCHES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rcc.: May 18, 8.15 p.m.) London, May 17. In the House of' Commons, Mr. Joynson. Hioka moved urging the Government to provide powerful unified air services under a Minister. Ho admitted that tho defence of London was very efficient, but said that those on the East Coast should be improved. Our machines are not fast enough. The British engine of ninetyfive horsjo-powcr could not cope with the German of 150 horse-power. Mr. H. J. Tennant, Under-accrctary for War, said thei-o had been a great'improvement in our defences. Supremacy of the air was largely ours. We won tho great majority of fights, and wo wero habitually making more reconnaissances than Germany ever made. We had two types of machine faster than any possessed by Germany. Allu&iug to the War Inquiry Committee, he declared that it would bo difficult' to improve on its constitution. Air. : I'emborton Billing attempted to intervene, anjid loud cries of "Sit down!" and "Shut up!"

Mr. Tennant announced that Lord Curzon was president of tho now War Board, comprising two naval, throe military, and oiio administrative' members, also a member of tho House of Commons and a peer. 'iLord Sydenham,had already been appointed. The board's powers were .advisory, with power of appeal to the War Committee if ithe Admiralty and the War Office did not accopt their recommendations.

Mr. Winston Churchill, eulogised Lord yurzon's appointment, aiid trusted that he would be given adequato powers. Hitherto the Government lacked a policy, cxcept one of "wait and sec." . Dealing with the earlier days, when Mt. Churchill was responsible, the latter oxplained the difficulty of getting money. Ho said lie had been reduced to the expedient of obtaining it under the guise of other votes for the Admiralty.

Ho alluded to 'he raids on Cuxhaven, Cologne, and Dusseldorf, when tho British had destroyed six Zeppelins. He said that the War Office, rightly, . lirnl decided in '1914 not to build airships, 110 ono foreseeing attacks 011 undefended twns. The proper course was to establish an Air Ministry. Mr. Bonar Law condemned Mr. Peonberton Billing's unwillingness to appear before tho Air Committee. "Our air service," ho said, "is at least equal to 'any of the belligerents. Germany has never possessed a machine : better than ours. Out of 479 air fights, only 63 have occurred on 'the. British side of the line, and in these thirteen German machines—no British—were downed. Wo aro turning out every month mors than the total number of pilots available at the outbreak of war."

Mr. Pemberton Billing nrotestcd against tho Minister's attack. He was prepared, he said, to substantiate his charges, bofova an expert committee, and was willing to reconsider his decision not to attend, if he were nllowed to have oounscl. The debate had an ilnexpected ending —tlio. House was counted out during Mr. Pemberton Billing's speech. ,< LOBBY OPINIONS (Rec. May 9.55 p.m.) London, May IS. The general impression in the lobby is that thedebatehas vindicated the British Air Service. Mr. Churchill's was a telling and carefully-prepared speech, but . its tone was rather spiteful, and drew Mr. Bonar Law's adroit rotort: "Mr. Churchill's criticism only commenced when he left office.: Mr. Churchill gave an example of the evils of dual control. He said that the naval airmen in Flanders had speedometers measuring knots, whilo their maps were 6caled to miles end kilometres." Lord. Hugh Cecil, who is a qualified airman, and has served in France, received an ovation at the end of an eloquent mid charming'eulogy of tho Flying Service. j Mr. Pemberton Billing paid tne penalty for refusing .to substantiate his charges against the Air Service when tho Commoners refused to let him make a speech in the House, and lie was snuffed out amid general merriment. The Northclift'e Press complains that the Government's Board is only advisory, without power to act.