AIR ARMAMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1930, Page 5

AIR ARMAMENTS

BRITISH PROGRAMME!

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright.) LONDON, Feb. 3.

The “Daily Telegraph” follows up its recent discosures regarding the cancellation of British warships construction with details of which it'terms'the Government’s “pacific intentions to the Air Service.” It says: “The Royal Air Force estimates are also being made the occasion of a disarmament gesture. The estimates for the coming year only provide -fair it fraction of the addition, to force proposed, accordance with the defence standard framed in ; the, year 1923. The intention is to provide only one new fighter squadron, making thirteen squadrons of fighter planes; whereas, under'the 1923 programme, the strength should be brought up to eighteen squadrons. Despite the fact that thirty-four regular and non-regular bombing squadrons would he required at the end of 1930 under the 1923 programme (it continued), we shall only have twentyfour bombing squadrons; though the programme for Home air defence was regarded as being the bare minimum; and only a fraction of the force can be applied to an .offensive against a foreign enemy. The paper continues: .“On the other hand, France has 1350 first line air craft; Italy has one thousand; and Britain only 772 on sea and land,”