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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1318.PDF
596 FLIGHT. MAY 30, 1935. should be accused of taking part in, or starting, an armaments race. Italy could build her battleships, Germany could intro duce conscription, France could call up reservists, and Russia could maintain the greatest standing army in Europe. None of that was an arms race, but as soon as this country took the tardy s.tep of putting its defences on a reasonable basis they were accused by their own citizens of starting an arms race. Herr Hitler had denied that Germany had 10,000 aeroplanes. It was rather academic to discuss 100 aeroplanes this way or that, and was of small importance in comparison with the fact that in 18 months or two years from now the disparity gap would need panic measures. He would like to give some items of first-hand knowledge. When an American aircraft firm some time ago received an enquiry from Germany for certain supplies they thought a mistake had occurred. The requisition referred to asked for 27,000 of a particular casting, sufficient to supply 3,000 engines of one particular make. Turning to ourselves, Capt. Balfour said that our first re quirement was a greatly increased number of aerodromes in places which were " not strategically disadvantageous." There was difficulty in obtaining land, but a plan could be worked out for taking over instantly, and under compulsory powers, aerodromes throughout the country. We should also have a number of factories, and those factories should not be within the London area. He hoped the Government would insist that production should take place in areas far away from the points most likely to be bombed, and also in areas where there was much unemployment. There should also be a drastic overhaul of the system of supplies of aircraft. To day the largest single order for aircraft was for a 1927 design. That was not a good enough state of affairs on which to base future expansion. The system of trying to achieve perfection had resulted in an official check on enterprise, and official pro cedure had so clogged the wheels of initiative and inventive ness that to-day our aircraft supplies were not what they should be. Mr. Churchill's Views Mr. Churchill said he welcomed the language Herr Hitler used against the indiscriminate bombing of civilian popula tions. At the same time he had to remind them that the German air force contained a larger percentage of long-distance bombing machines than the air force of any other nation. He did not. believe that the increased air force which they were contemplating should be entrusted entirely to the existing air craft industry. In his opinion national factories for producing particular types of aeroplane should play a part in the strengthening of the air force. He made the suggestion that they might have a discussion in a secret session, as it would be a great advantage if they could discuss some of the technical points without being overheard by all Europe. Dr. Addison had a creepy feeling when he thought how they were going to get the increased number of aeroplanes. Here was a State Department with no designing department, arid having to rely on the designing departments of fifteen different firms. He recalled what happened during the War, and con cluded that they must bring the supply system into one de partment, with adequate powers to control costs from start to finish. Admiral Sir Roger Keyes put in an argument for a separate air service for the Navy. All fighting to obtain command of the sea was the business of the Navy, whether carried out by- surface craft or aircraft, and dual control could only lead to confusion and inefficiency. He complained that all the Admir alty's efforts for years had been thwarted by the Air Ministry. The sooner the Government relieved the Admiralty of the handicap of the present system the better. The Air Ministry would have plenty to do to put its own house in order. Re cently an officer who had spent his whole life in the R.A.F, had said to him : "If you were really running your own show you would have wings on your torpedo boats by now." He said the majority of members would be astonished to learn that the Navy was not allowed to have flying boats. Every navy had flying boats which were infinitely superior to those possessed by the R.A.F. American Example Mr. Taylor, in the second maiden speech of the debate, sub mitted that in view of the post-War actions of European nations we owed allegiance or military assistance to no one. But in view of our unsatisfactory defence forces we could not avoid entanglements which might otherwise be unnecessary. He pointed out that the United States of America had no in tention of being drawn into a war, but nevertheless her forces were adequate for the protection of her people. He thought Great Britain should express her willingness to co-operate with the other great English-speaking nation in a mutual desire for peace. He suggested that as the War Loan and Victory Bonds were offered to the public for subscription in time of national need, so a National Defence Loan might now be offered. Col. Wedgwood complimented Mr. Taylor on a perfect maiden speech. He agreed with Mr. Taylor that a situation like the present was not to be met merely by an increase in the Air Force vote. He strongly urged a loan for the build ing up of factories to provide aeroplanes until production was got up to 20 or 30 aeroplanes a day. He thought the machines to be produced should be fighting aeroplanes, not bombing aeroplanes, and based his view on the contention that the bombing aeroplane could never work if the other side had control of the air, and this control would be decided by the fighting aeroplanes. Wing Commander James said he was certain Herr Hitler would make the abolition of air warfare one of the main planks of his platform. At the present juncture nothing would suit Germany better. If air warfare were to be abolished it would leave the German army again the paramount force in Europe. SEEN ON EMPIRE AIR DAY: The new Avro coastal reconnaissance monoplane—a militarised " Ava " or 652—leaves Gosport to give battle to a "Hart." The blob in the "parrot cage " is Flight's representative. A report of the Empire Air Day activities appears on pages 580-584. Flight photograph.)
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