DECISIVE FACTOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1939, Page 5

DECISIVE FACTOR

EMPIRE AIR FORCE SECOND PHASE OF WAR APPROACHING. TRAINING AND BUILDING PLANS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright OTTAWA, November 22. “Excellent as the British aircraft are, even better ones will be coming' out in the near future,’’ said Captain Harold Ba l foil)'. Lord Riverdale’s associate in the Bi'itish air mission. “The war. so far, has been a diplomatic contest, which has gone in favour of lhe Allies. The second phase is approaching. Il will involve active, large-scale military operations. “The mere announcement of the Empire air scheme had a depressing effect on the Nazi leaders. The practical effect when thousands of young airmen start moving to the theatre of war may well be the war’s decisive factor. “Wishful thinking of the possibility of Germany cracking internally is dangerous and is likely to induce a slight diminishing effect. The Government has no illusions and is preparing for a iong and arduous war, probably lasting three years.” A simultaneous announcement of the details of the Empire air scheme can be expected to be made in London, Canberra, Wellington and Ottawa shortly. Some members of the missions may remain to form the nucleus of an administrative organisation. The first of 18 Bristol Bolingbroke bombers has been delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force. It is a Canadian version of the Bristol Blenheim. It was built in Quebec and carries half a ton of bombs for a thousand miles at a steady 200 miles an hour. The Royal Canadian Air Force has also received a number of Westland Lysander army co-operation planes manufactured in Toronto. They are gull-winged monoplanes capable of 229 miles an hour. It is reported from Walhalla, North Dakota, that negotiations are under way for the establishment of an airport half on the American side of the border and half on the Canadian. American-built planes would fly there and be pushed across the border to take off again.