R.A.F. WAR ACTIVITIES
SIR KINGSLEY WOOD'S SURVEY: DOUBLING OUTPUT
London, To-day.
SIR KINGSLEY WOOD, Secretary of State for Air, made his expected statement in Parliament yesterday on the work of the R.A.F. since war broke out.
Recruitment, he said, remained on a voluntary basis, and the response was magnificent. Train-
PREMIER'S SPEECH POSTPONED
London, To-day.
In the House of Commons yes. terday, Sir John Simon, Chan. cellor of the Exchequer, announ. ced that the Prime Minister would make his weekly state- ment on Thursday, Instead of on Wednesday,
This is to allow time for fuller consultation with the Dominion governmenta. Reuter,
BRITISH FIGHTERS SUPERIOR
London, To-day.
In his Commons statement the Air Secretary said that day and night, reconnaissance aircraft have been penetrating into enemy country, test- ing the defences and observing troop movements and concentrations.
A complete photograph map of the Siegfried Line had been made.
Many photographs taken from only a few hundred feet up had gone to the composition of map.
Sir Kingsley also stated that Bri- tain's latest fighters had been estab-
counterparts. British Wireless.
ing organisation had been expanded on a vast authority has been given and is be-lished to be superior to their German scale, and experience showed that our fightering put into immediate effect to ensure machines were definitely better than the Ger- against the possible effects of enemy considerably. increased . facilities man craft.
action.
We are acting also in full co-opera-
BRITISH
When war broke out, plans for immediate increased tion with France in many of our pro- SEIZURE OF
production were put into effect. The rate of ductive plans. production would soon be more than twice the considerable figure already reached.
Continuing his promised statement through on the Royal Air Force in the House Berlin of Commons, Sir Kingsley Wood, Air Minister, said: "The work is silent and normally unspectacular.
"During the first four weeks of the war, this Command flow on reconnaissance, ani-submarine and convoy patrols, a distance of ap. proximately 1,000,000 miles and provided air escorts for over 100 convoy..
have often
GREAT STRIDES
Military aviation and production in France have recently made great
CONTRABAND
London, To-day. the British flights over strides and much mutual advantage
During the week ended October 7, and said: "Our airmen has been gained by a full and free the British Contraband Control
de- on their return spoke firing and searchlights
of inter-change of experience and ideas." [tained 25,000 tons goods as to which encountered
Referring to Dominion co-operation, there was evidence they were contra- so we can only conjecture that the Sir Kingsley said: "Nothing has given band destined to Germany. people of Berlin must be very heavy us greater encouragement than
the Cargoes included 13,800 tons of pe- sleepers. "For some time now. the keen desire of all parts of the Em-troleum products, 2,500 tons of sul- Royal Air Force has been established pire to play an effective part in air phur, 1,500 tons of jute and 400 tons in France alongside gallant
French defence.
of other fibres, 1,500 tons of feeding squadrons.
of
of
and
"I am thinking not only of the Do-stuffs, 1,300 tons of oils and fats, 1,200 "Everywhere they have been receiv-minions and India, but of the Colonies. tons of foodstuffs, 600 tons of oilseeds, ed. with kindness and hospitality. "Our air escorts also
570 tons of copper and 430 tons The moving of squadrons to France been able to give warning of the ap-with all the associated equipment had
other ores and metals, 500 tons proach of enemy craft and the pre-proceeded with the greatest smooth-
phosphates, 920 tons of timber sence of submarines from ranges tar
quantities of other commodities. beyond the vision of surtuce craft.
"The value of the work performed must not be gauged by attacks alone.
AIR DETERRENT
"We have confrmed from prisoners' statements that the mere presence of aircraft is sufficient to make a sub- marine submerge and remain sub- merged and that the presence of an air escort often prevents submarine commander from attacking a convoy.
"Almost dally there have boon olashes with the enemy and units of the coastal command are suo- cosefully carrying out a service vital to our war effort."
After again referring to reconnais- sance over Germany Sir Kingsley Wood said that hundreds of hours of flying have been recorded.
MAPPING DEFENCES
ness,"
OTHER COMMANDS
that
on
tell
the
EMPIRE STRENGTH
"To-day the whole strength of Empire is being marshalled and there is no doubt that the great dominion effort of 25 years ago will be largely exceeded in the present conflict."
Sir Kingsley announced the rapid de- expansion of training school facilities in Canada, Australia and New Zea- the land and young men trained would join either the Air Force squadrons in one theatre of operation or British, R.A.F. units.
Sir Kingsley Wood said some other occasion he would the House of the valuable and voted work done by other commands including overseas commands in Mediterranean, Middle East, Iraq,
India and the Far East.
Referring to recruitment and equipment, Sir Kingsley Bald sald that during the first fortnight of the war 10,000 men were accepted for service as pilots, crews and maintenance personnel. Training and organisation had been expanded on a large scale to produce further large numbers of pilots, ob- servers and air gunners required.
ly exaggerated."
MYTHICAL RAID
our
This undertaking was one of great magnitude and its develop- ment would result in a very great and rapid Increase in the number of training schools.
A mission from England headed by Lord Riverdale, who was aided by specially selected technical staff, was
already on its way to Canada to meet corresponding missions from Austra- lia and New Zealand..
These missions would discuss with the Canadian authorities all further
tion of the undertaking.
The total contraband goods detain- ed during the first five weeks of the war amounted to about 315,000 tons.- British Wireless.
LITHUANIA AND SOVIET
London, To-day.
Lithuanian comment is still reserv- ed, as no official" statement has yet appeared, but it is believed that Lithuania hopes to obtain certain sec- tions of former Polish territory, near Vilna, In return for any concessions she must make to Reuter,
Soviet Russia.
cognised the significance of this great conception.
"We are most grateful to the Do- minions' High Commissioners in
"All sorts of claims have been made in German reports as to the numbers of our aircraft shot down.
"Of course we must have casualties. Some German claims Vital military information had been have been accurate and others gross- steps to be taken for the rapid execu-London for their helpful co-operation.” gained and units had familiarised themselves with the country.
Augmenting his reference to map- ping the Siegfried Line, Sir Kingsley Wood said: "A few days ago, aircraft taking off from an aerodrome in France, covered the whole length of Germany from the Saar to the North Sea and flew on to Heligoland, all without serious opposition, and then made a safe landing home in England.
Long reconnaissance flights of a thousand miles or so have bean carried out at night under wea- ther conditions of great difficulty. "The distribution of messages to the German people over large areas of enemy territory which has been combined with successful reconnais- -sance, have been of considerable value in giving information to the people of Germany," Sir Kingsley Wood added.
--
HEAVY SLEEPERS
"A number of these messages had recently been found in the possession of German prisoners notwithstanding -the pains and penalties threatened 'against persons who picked up such
communications."
•
"For various reasons the Govern- ment of South Africa does not consider this scheme of air training applicable Referring to the "mysterious affair to the circumstances of the Union and at Friedrichshaven" Sir Kingsley they consider their air force personnel sald: "Neither the French nor
should receive their full training at selves were responsible for this my-home. thical raid."
our-
"I, however, am authorised to say Referring to aircraft strengths, Sir that the Union authorities intend to Kingsley said "The R.A.F. is ready make their training as complete as to strike and strike hard and at any possible and expand their air forces time to make Its full and effective to the fullest extent of their contribution to winning the war.
We have built up aircraft produc- tion on broad foundations.
At the outbreak of war the rate of production represented an achieve- ment unprecedented in this country in time of peace.
DOUBLE PRODUCTION
Now our factories are every Increasing their labour force.
sources."
STRIKING EFFORTS
re-
AIR SUPERIORITY
Concluding Sir Kingsley recalled the late King's tribute to the Empire's contribution in the air to victory and said: "We shall have our dangers and ordeals and our difficulties but none of us doubt that when the great test comes again our airmen of to-day--- from the Motherland and overseas — will once more record the same magni- cent achievements, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty."
Replying to a question by Mr. Hugh Dalton, leading member of the Labour Parly, suggesting that the time was After remarking that the Dominions not far distant when Britain would had already made individual contri- have recovered her air supremacy over butions of a gallant and striking Germany which she had in 1918, Sir character, Sir Kingsley said that the Kingsley said: The steps I have in- arrangements referred to
adicated to-day will satisfy him that notable illustration of the manner in we are taking every step in this con- day which members of the Commonwealth | nection."
could bring to bear the full weight of their might and their individual re- sources to secure the achievement of a common purpose and the success of a common cause.
New factories are also nearly com- pleted and fresh sub-contractors be- ing enlisted.
In due course this will mean that the rate of production will be more than twice the considerable figure now reached. The War Cabinet has made a fresh that Berlin citizens alopt quietly examination of the whole position and
Sir Kingsley Wood referred to the German official' bulletin which stated
were
In
"I am sure the House would like to join with the Government paying tribute to the vision and Imagination of Dominion states. mon who have do promptly re-
AIRMEN HONOURED
Replying to Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal Leader, Sir Kingsley said that he understood that an announcement the that was being made to-day officers and men who had displayed such skill at Kiel had been rewarded by the King.-Reuter.