ARMAMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1928, Page 6

ARMAMENTS

FRENCH INCREASE. United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Qopyright.) LONDON, Oct. 2: Following M. Painleve’s (War Minister) interview, as alraady cabled, the “Daily Express’s” special political correspondent reveals ' that startling increases, amounting to twelve and a quarter millions sterling, are being spent on the French armaments in the ensuing twelve months. The total expenditure on the fighting forces is 85 millions sterling, as agaiivt 73 millions sterling last year. Britain’s expenditure on her fighting forces is 114 millions this year, as against 115 millions last year. More than half of the French expenditure in the army portion is allotted to the construction of a- great concrete defence wall, with rests for amchine guns and for anti-aircraft guns, on the French frontiers.

/The largest iproporitonal' increase as’ that devoted to the French Air Force, which at present consists of 1200 first linl aircraft,.. f supplemented by.., large \tfeseryes./ ’;, 'A. ”’'i; ' A.,.,1 '.’....7 ti ,-. d Britain Kas*bare!yj.;pey4p * ,huiidr,ed f fihstdine aircraft.' The fact that there is a. 20 per cent, increase in" the naval estimates proves that a naval renaissance in France is tho longer aii ;, ? L