IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1919, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

A LARGE VOTE. INTERESTING STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. PAST AND FUTURE OPERATIONS. Received March IS, 5.20 p.m. London, March 13. General Seely (Air Minister), in the House of Commons, moved an air vote of forty-five millions on account of the total estimate of sixty-six millions, which will probably be reduced when peace is signed. It would have been two hundred millions if the war had continued. Britain started the war with six squadron:-. She now has two hundred, and was building four thousand aeroplanes monthly when the armistice was signed. Three thousand eight .hundred of ours were missing in the war period. Three million sterling is earmarked for experiment, and research for civil aviation. General Seely believed that the proportion of air to land and sea forces would constantly grow, ana possibly in a few years would make the present armies and fleets obsolete. The possibilities of carrying mails between Cairo and India were extremely favorable, and the Air Ministry proposed to concentrate its first, efforts on this route.

General Seely added that, the whole of the air force resources would remain at the service of civilian aviation. We were further advanced than other nations as regards civilian aviation, and the next duty was to plan aerial routes, home and abroad. We had at last, got a wireless telephone by which, in- the same operation, we could send and receive messages; also many othc-r extraordinary inventions in war time, including an apparatus for taking a series of photographs at a great height, giving a more accurate survey of the land below than months of ordinary survey. The Germans were first, in the field in directing wireless, but we had got the German code, and thereby knew exactly where to attack their flyers. We were abie to direct machines from the ground with complete success.

AIRSHIP PASSENGER SERVICE. A NEW YORK VENTURE. Received March 18, 7.30 p.m. New York, March 14. An aviation company has completed plans for the establishment, of an aeroplane service between New York and the Pacific coast. Four airships, carrying twelve passengers each, will be used.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.