BRITAIN’S DEFENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1933, Page 5

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE

INCREASE IN ARMS b, G R.A.F. & NAVY PROGRAMME ‘ o/'b (United Press A isolation—By Electm Telegraph— Copyright LONDON- October 29. Despite official disclaimers,- newspapers continue to forecast a big ex-peu-uit-ure- lor derence. "’ ’'-o :■ -Ihe Sunday Chronicle” declares that the Air Force- is building over 10J fighting planes ‘ equipped with ma'chine guns, and a squadron of giant \ flying boats. ■ ‘ f • Tile Navy, it adds, is contemplating a 1934 programme of thirty vessels, comprising six cruisers, 1 two. flotilla leaders, sixteen destroyers, and six submarines. Sheffield factories -are the most active in England, especially' those relating to armaments. ‘‘SHEFFIELD BUSIEST FOR YEARS.” '

, SIR J. SIMON DENOUNCED. ; LONDON; October 29. Sir Stafford Crip-ps sp«ak ing; at? Bristol, characterised Sir <J Simon-'as the worst Foreign Secretary in two hundred years; 1 He had let Britain-into repeated follies. He'added that Hitler would hot be so certain of his position, if Japan had been properly dealt, with'last year. “It makes one almost , physically vomit to see the armament factories at Sheffield busier than they years. We ought to- warn the Governments that' Labour would call a genera] strike*, rather, thanf tHe -breaking'of anti-war pacts.” ** GREATER SINGAPORE. DEFENCE. -; - SINGAPORE, .October 30. The coastal resort of; Changi, which is ;at;, the . entrance ,to ,thechannel leading to the naval base, formerly a popular , holiday fresort, is now being militarised. New, barracks are being . - for the accommodation of an increased numl>er of troops. It is rumpur&cj. That another > British infantry battalion will, be stationed here in 193|,;-and also - that a military aerodrome'will'be built, ’ : ., ,' y While ’there are not the slightest signs of a scare, the developments are generajly. commended, it being realised that in . the event'of trouble in the Fn-r . Fast, 5 Singaporewould, • -be .most ,- concerned. ’ ;■„< : .;,,b "COUNTRY FAVOURS PEACE.” ItUGBY, Ofctdbei 1 29. In - h ffieSsagb. addressed 'to the- CoPfien’atjve candidate -ata - by-election is, proceeding- for the * Skipton Diyisipn of Yorkshire,-"the"--Party Lender, Mr Stanley Baldwin, , reiterates the- Government’s deep interest in the cause of disarmament. H e says: “The whole of the coun try,irrespective of party, is solidly united in favour of peace and disarmament by, international •agreement, /the British Government has striving to achieve it, and there npver was a time when it was more . necessary for the people to give the Government their support on this issue.”,-. The Hon. Oliver Stanley, Convervative M.P. for Westmoreland, addressing his constituents at Kendall, declared that war .panic was unjustified. No . Government anywhere had its attention fixed on anything but its economic .revival, JAPAN’S AERIAL AMBITION. LONDON, October 29. Japan is determined to create the world’s leading air force,: says • the “Sunday Pictorial.” Th e new air policy aims at training large numbers of soldiers and sailors to fly. Boys between 05 and 18 will be taugh to become pilots and mechanics, thus creating a reserve of aviators. ' The naval air arm is being doubled in strength.-' Japan is now manufacturing her own fighters and bombers. A French technical mission is advising the authorities “BRITAIN WILL NOT HAVE WAR.” LONDON, October 29. ■ The Leader of the Liberal Party, Sir Herbert Samuel, speaking at Halifax, denounced the light-hearted talk of' another war. I-Ie said that Britons would not have' it. They were determined, as far as their power extends, to stop it now. That is the lesson of East Fulham. The Disarmament Conference must arrive, at a convention reasonably offering Germany fulfilment of the Versailles pledges. U.S.A. DECLINES PEACE PACT? MOSCOW, October 29. It is announced here, , ostensibly from Washington, that America has formally declined a Japanese offer for an Americo-Japanese non-aggres-sion pact.