POOLING AIR POWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1942, Page 4

POOLING AIR POWER

CONFERENCE OF UNITED NATIONS PROCEEDINGS AT OTTAWA. • VITAL BEARING ON TOTAL WAR EFFORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) OTTAWA,, May 19. The Allied Air Training Conference continued its discussions today in closed sessions. The Canadian Air Minister (Mr Power) will make a statement daily. The conference chairman said the nations represented will work in three main groups—firstly, the British quartet, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with the United States; secondly, other countries training in America, such as Norway, the Netherlands and China; thirdly, countries not training in America but chiefly in Africa and England, such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Belgium, South Africa and Free France. The United States group will have at least three committees working on different subjects simultaneously. Major-General Barton Young, commander of United States Air Training, in a statement to the Press, said: “We are nearing the point where any pilot of any one of the United Nations can step into any other nation’s show." The Air Minister, Mr Power, said an ideal situation would be a pool, including all pilots and all planes of the United Nations. KEV TO VICTORY SPEECH BY CANADIAN PREMIER. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S MESSAGE. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) OTTAWA, May 19. The Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Mackenzie King), in a speech at the Air Training Conference, welcomed delegates and regretted the absence of Russia. Mr King said an imperative need was co-or-dinated air strength. “In the perfecting of a co-ordinated effort among the United Nations,” he declared, “lies the key to. victory. In . many fields means of achieving unified action in prosecuting the war have already been devised, such as a unified strategic direction, common planning and a unified allocation of munitions and raw materials. The aim of the conference is not merely 'a discussion of problems. It is proposed to explore all possible avenues of co-operation and co-ordination in the air training field, with a view to planning the best and most speedy use of all existing facilities. It is imperative to keep in mind that air training is directed to actual combat in the air. The ultimate purpose we all have in view is the attainment of an overpowering and decisive ail* strength. The magnificent contributions that have already been made to that end by the United Kingdom and the United States are the pride of all who love valour and who cherish freedom.” President Roosevelt has instructed

?■ Mr Robert Lovett, United States As- ■? sistant Secretary of War, to deliver a message to the Air Conference conveying his personal greetings. He said: “It is fitting that the conference should be held in Canada, because Canada has increasingly become the aerodrome of democracy. She is sending from her training fields thousands of her own and other men of the United Nations

to fight for the cause of liberty over all battlefields in this planetary war. Without Canada’s tremendous contribution to our common destiny, the cause of the United Nations might have been greatly imperilled. With Canada’s valiant and unswerving aid, the joined power, courage and audacity of your conference symbolises that the people of the United Nations can look forward confidently to the long and hard road of victory. The hopes of free men and women everywhere and the hopes of those who are awaiting liberation in countries the savage invaders have darkened and despoiled, are with the United Nations.” ACTION IN JAPAN NEW AIR HEADQUARTERS. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 19. The Tokio official radio says the War Ministry announced that, in recognition of the growing importance of the aerial arm in modern warfare, an Army Air Force Headquarters is to be established on June 1, under the command of General Tobe, who has been appointed by the Emperor.