ARMY AND NAVY VOTE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 August 1913, Page 5

ARMY AND NAVY VOTE.

CABLE NEWS (United Prm « Telegraph—Copyright.)

DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. INSUFFICIENCY OF AIR-FLEET. (Received Last Night, 10.50 o'clock.) LONDON, July 31. The House of Commons discussed the Army and Navy vote. The chief topic of discussion was the alleged insufficiency in aeroplanes. Mr G. J. Sandys, Unionist member for Somerset, detailed his and Mr Joynson-Hicks' investigations. They found that only forty-five aeroplanes were available in case of war. He declared that Colonel Seely's total of 120 machines oould only be reached by including machines under repair, and monoplanes, which were not used, as the;; were dangerous. Colonel Seely explained that normally forty per centum were under repair. He. stated that ninety aeroplanes were on order. The Central Flying .School had flown over 100,000 miles without serious accident. Colonel Seely added that the military aerial wing had flown 135,000 miles without a serious accident.

A proposed reduction in the Army vote was defeated by 280 votes to *24.

The Conservatives had carefully organised a snap division, which was foiled by the Rationalists, wlio ' em"ployed a detfetive. to watch ihe London termini, and noticed an unusual' number of Unionists returning. They informed the Government Whips.