The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY 18th, SEPTEMBER, 1922. BRITAIN’S AIR DEFENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY 18th, SEPTEMBER, 1922. BRITAIN’S AIR DEFENCE.

Some remarkable facts in connection with the present state of Britain’s aildefence were given by Sir William JoynsoiuHicka, M.P., Chairman of the Parliamentary Air Committee, nt tho luncheon held on the occasion of the quarterly mating of the Association of

British Chambers of Commerce at the Hotel Victoria on July 19. The progress of the Air Force between 1913 and 1918, great as it was, was as nothing compared with the progress made between 1918 and 1922. which was duo to the experience gained from the four years of war. Machines were now bigrrer and engines for more powerful with the result that aeroplanes could now fly 200 miles an hour at a height of 25,000 feet. At the present time Great Britain possessed 37 squadrons of aeroplanes with 12 machines to n squadron 144 machines in all. Out of this total 25 squadrons, or 300 machines, were scattered over the lace of . the globe. France, on the other hand, possessed 140 squadrons, and by Christmas it was expected she would have 200 a total of 2.4(30 machines. Further the output of aeroplanes in France today was 300 per month, as against 10 in this country. What the result would bo if France were an enemy instead of an ally could bettor be imagined than described. Germany, Sir William added, was manufacturing in Russia, and was strongly developing her commercial airfleet, so that these machines could he utilised for military purposes should occasion arise. Two modern battleships cost £16,000,000, each of which could lie sunk by a bomb of 2,0001 h. exploding within 500 feet of it, the ‘‘push” of the water against the plates causing leakages. For this same sum we could purchase 2,000 of the highest class fighting machines. Sir William was convinced that the war had proved that the air service must now be placed on at least an equal piano with the two other fighting services. He appealed for a larger output of machines, pointing out that British manufacturers of aeroplanes were the reserve force of the air power in this country. In conclusion Sir William drew a vivid picture of future air war. fare. During the late war the bombs used were comparatively small, and Germany, even at the height of her power never dropped more than 12 tons of bombs in Great Britain in anyone month. Yet the effects on tlio stoppage of our manufactures due to these raids were known to all. Bombs of 4.0001 b. were now in existence, and the explosive force of these was at least three times greater than shells of the same weight, being composed almost entirely of explosive. Without an adequate Air Force of our own. which we had not- got to-day. London and our chief towns could he made practically' uninhabitable. Whether or not the next war will he decided in the air. we cannot hut agree with Sir William that an enormous responsibility rests on all who set at nought the warnings given as to the necessity of putting nuthouse in order.