ALLIED LEAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1940, Page 5

ALLIED LEAD

IN FIGHTING AIRCRAFT

QUANTITY AND QUALITY. BRITISH PLANES EQUIPPED WITH CANNON. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 21. Tim Parliaineiitary Undersecretary for Air, Captain Balfour, in a speech at Margate, said that, the possibility of a iip-aiid-run raid by enemy aircraft under the cloak of darkness must be faced, but Ihe successl'ul ami tolling raid on Tuesday night at Sylt showed that Hie British lion had teeth as well as wings. Referring to the progress in building up such an air force as would ensure mastery of the air, Captain Balfour recalled Sir Kingsley Wood’s estimate that the output of aircraft accruing to this country and to France is greater than the output in Germany. ■ The weekly rate of output since the outbreak of the war had shown a steady numerical increase, while all who had any knowledge of the Royal Air Force equipment knew that the effective increase—that is to say, the growth in the fighting strength of the force—had been ever greater. The quality of the British aircraft, added Captain Balfour, “is splendid. But there is yet more to come, as new types arc now under development to enter the service. No doubt the enemj' would very much like to know the speed and armament of the new products, and this in due course they shall know from practical experience when they meet our pilots.-and to their cost.

“Wo are in the lead in modern devices that are of assistance in air warfare. and we intend io keep this so. You have perhaps read something about the German aircraft being armed with cannon while we have only got machineguns. I can tell you this is not so. and that not only are our cannon in full production in this country, but also our fighters equipped with them have already contributed to the destruction of some enemy machines.”