AIR AND NAVY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 33, 2 May 1927, Page 9

AIR AND NAVY

PROGRESS RECORD TRIBUTE TO AIR FORCE DISARMAMENT QUESTION By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright (British Official 'Wireless.') Reed. 12.40 p.m. RUGBY, Sunday. The 159th Summer Exhibition o£ the Royal Academy of Arts was opened yesterday at the annual banquet last night. Prince Henry was the principal guest. Several Cabinet Ministers attended, including the Air Minister, Sir Samuel Hoare, who, responding to the toasts of "the Fighting Services,” said that in the past four years the Royal Air Force had doubled its strength, in regard to the number of squadrons, its traiinng was more intensive and its equipment more powerful, and although only little more than half the size of the greatest air force in Europe, its development was satisfactory. He referred in particular to the work being done by the Air Force on the north-east frontier of India, which had seldom been quieter. The air force was co-operating usefully there in defence work in wild and mountainous country in which flying would have been Impossible a few years ago. Lord Jelicoe, replying for “The Navy,” referring to the disarmament question, said he entirely agreed with the terms of the answer sent by the British Government to President Coolidge’s great message calling another conference on disarmament. It could not be forgotten that the geographical position of the British Empire and the length of the Empire’s communications put Britain in a peculiar position In regard to naval disarmament. It was different from every other country in the world.—A. and N.Z.