“FLY OR DIE!”

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1920, Page 4

“FLY OR DIE!”

MAJOR-GENERAL LEGGE’S WARNING.

ADELAIDE, Dee. 19

“The Aid Defence of Australia” formed the subject of a lecture by MajorGeneral Legge before the Aero Club last night. ~ | Peace, he said, was not in sight for j many years to come unless a miracle j happened, and there may be great wars again sooner than we expected. People in Australia who had not served abroad scarcely realised what war meant and even those who served had but little practical experiesneo of the n(ew powers of the air. In Australia air defence had not even been commenced, and it was none too soon for all who realised its importance to shout, and go on shouting, “Wake up Australia!” “Your neighbours,” lie continued “even those who took no part in the great war, are making solid preparations. Siam even has an air force. China has lately made a contract with Vickers, Limited, for £1,800,000 to construck aerodromes and provide planes and equipment. Japan has 600 military planes, and an arsenal which can build more. Holland and Portugal have an air force. France and the United States of America are retaining very largp numbers of airmen and planes for their war cquipmpnt. All these are our neighbours now, and as near to Darwin as Darwin is to Melbourne. Truly the British race have only themselves to blame if they meet trouble.” After emphasising that there were many vital questions that may easily become causes of war around the coasts of the Pacific, the general asked j;o be allowed to read two imaginary messages which he hoped would bring home to those present what might happen to Aus tralia:—

Telegram received at Melbourne, December 15tb, 192—, 7 a.m.:— “Darwin.—Several hundred large planes landing at aerodrome. Firing beginning direction wireless st. . Message breaks off, and no further communication with Darwin can be had. The state of the public mind may be guessed, especially when the following day the Premier of Queensland telegraphs at noon:— “Townsville and Rockhampton are reported destroyed by incendiary bombs, many inhabitants killed by poison gas, enemy messages dropped state all cities will hoist white signal of surrender tomorrow, and hand over all coin and bullion to advanced parties, otherwise will be destroyed, great panic. What shall we do?—

“If you were the Prime Minister of Australia,” he added “what would you do?” A country was defended by naval power, military power, and air power, with behind these, as a reserve, man power, and producing power. So far Australia has spent most on naval power, less on military power, and nothing on air or reserve powers.

Australia, in proportion to her population, should have expended annually: Navy £5,000,000; army, £3,000,000 and air £30,000. But the actual amounts sent were: Navy, £1,378,000; army, £2,425,000; and air, £5700. The speaker pointed out the dissimilarity between England’s case and Australia’s case with regard to air defence, and declared that the real check in the war came through the aircraft working with the sea service. So we must have air command .

“Battleships,” he said, “can only be protected from submarines by aircraft. What is the good of a fleet to us if it is going to be locked up in anothei Scapa Flow?” “You gentlemen, who well represent the people of Australia, you must make up your minds whether the air above Australia shall be Australian air or somebody else’s air. Australia, must fly or die, unless she is willing to change her colour from white to yellow, brown or black.”

In conclusion, he outlined the character of the Air Force which he said was necessary for Australia as 16 squadrons of fighting and scouting planes; two squadrons of flying boats each squadron of 25 machines ; and in addition a reserve of 200 large passenger-carrying planes normally in commercial use, and an arsenal or factory, either Government owned or private, capable of manu facturing engines and metal parts of planes. And certain aerodromes, hangars, and workshops were, of course, also necessary. Tile cost would be about £1,500,000 on capital expenditure, and £1,000,000 per annum for maintenance of the force.