Britain’s Air Forces.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1922, Page 4

Britain’s Air Forces.

AUSTRALIAN AND' N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

RED UCED ESTIMATES.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.

‘UBTRAUAN ANb N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

LONDON, March 21

Tn presenting the Air Force Estimates in the House of Commons, Captain F. E. Guest, Secretary of State for the Air, said he welcomed the Government’s decision to retain a separate, autonomous Air Ministry. After the “ Geddes cut ” had been made, the Royal Air Force would consist of 31 squadrons, of which 19T would be stationed abroad. ’

As illustrating the value oi the Royal Air Force, Captain Guest related that only last Week two aeroplanes stationed at Aden flew over the Red Sea, and Within two days had subdued rebellions tribesmen, who had stolen 4000 head of cattle. The, Air Force was proving cheap and effective, and Incoming the handyman of the fighting services. France had over 60 air squadrons, and proposed an even larger programme. The Government could not accept the Geddes Committee’s proposed abolition of 8* home squadrons, which were required for co-operation with the Army and Navy. The Estimates had been reduced by 6,600,000. In consequence of the refusal of most of the Dominions to support an Imperial airship service, lie had reluctantly h gffn negotiations to sell the existing airships. He strongly favoured the maintenance of the cross-Channel aeroplane services, which lie regarded as training opera lions for linking up the Empire. The Air Ministry intended to steadily dev lop further links in the Imperial chain. Major-General Seeley (formerly Presi.'i ut of the Air Council) said lie thought air economics had gone far enough. Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson diallonged the wisdom of an independent ai. force, which was not supported by j’i>y soldier or sailor of eminence who had participated in the late war. He pleaded for more generous support of civil aviation. l.iciitciiunt-Colmiel W. E. Guinness Coalition Unionist) moved an amendment providing that all the defence forces he represented on a co-ordinated Imperial Defence Committee, meeting IVqueiitlyw ifli a Minister outside the Defemte Departments as vice-chairman. Mr Winstone Churchill said if the war Iwd .lasted a few months longer we would have seen vasi Ueriitl operations conducted from the East Coast upon Berlin and the. heart of Germany, which Would have increased in magnitude, hut ti e “ supply of Germans ran out.” It must he remembered that Britain had lost her insular position on which liei gr iitness had stood. We must he sup? we had the leadeiship of the air. The only way of securing co-ordination of the Army and Navy and the Air Force was through a Ministry of Defence, but it could not possibly be achieved at present. Lieutenant-Colonel Guinness withdrew bis amendment.