Page
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1936.
AVIATION
BRITAIN'S AIR DEFENCE
Big Increase Made
In Estimates
CO-OPERATION
IS
WITH NAVY ESSENTIAL
Broad "outlines of the British government's plans to streng- then further the Royal Air Force at home and overseas are re- vealed in the historic White Paper relating to Defence. which was published recently.
The Air Estimates for 1936-37, published later, and the Air Minter's explanatory memorandum issued with them, indicate In some detail how the expansion programme decided nearly a year ago is going on. From these three documents a picture of the Air Force of the near future may be built up.
P
An outstanding feature of the White Paper is its cleak and em- phatic declaration of faith in the importance of the air arm. prime function of the Royal Air Force." it states, "ls to provide an effective "deterrent to any attack upon the vital interests of this country whether situated at home or overseas. In the present situa- tion this is the most urgent and Important of our defence require ments," Strategists, who "in past have doubted the extent of the Government's belief in the efficacy of the air weapon, wel: somed that paragraph,
the
MORE PLANES
the "Accordingly,
programme already approved will be varied by effecting certain changes in com- position and at the
SCHEME
day on which the Estimates for 1935-37 were published. He said: the past nine "Experience ut months has given the Air Ministry the certainty that we can put into production machines that in speed and range are second to none in the world.
Lately I have received envoys from several other countries, say- ing that they wanted such and such a machine. I have had to polut, out that Great Britain needs the first 150, but the amour for that machine is sufficient evidence of our primacy in design."
„OVERSEAS NEEDS
which will depend Britain's capa- city to protect herself and to play a fitting part in the scheme of collective security,
When the first expansion pro- gramme was launched nearly a year ago the Industry offered the Government its full and whole- hearted co-operation in the great productive effort required.
After years of a low level of pro- duction, constructors were faced with the many difficulties that are involved in resuming production at the full level of capacity. The has extended
thint programme now been framed will involve even!
dificult problems, not the least of which is to procure the necessary numbers of highly skill ied workmen,
more
There is no standing still in the technique of aircraft and aero engine design and construction.
"WAR RESERVES”
Lord Swinton's explanatory notes add a vital detail to the expansion scheme. He states that execution of the revised programme, includ- ing provision of full war reserves, will extend into 1997 and 1938. Presumably the scale on which re- serves of aircraft and engines will 'be established will be sufficient" to make good losses that would be incurred, in the early stages of a war, while manufacturers were ac- celerating to full war production. The rate of loss might be great.
Lord Trenchard, onetime Chief
foreshadowed : of the Air Statt. several years ago the need for 100
first three months. That period per cent, replacement within the has since fallen, in the view of many experts, to one month and it may be less. Evidently, therefore, the essential fact that must be known before the numbers of re- serves necessary can be decided is the period which industry would need to reach full wartime pru- duction of aircraft material
No industry welcomes high peaks and low hollows in its graph of It is uneconomical With these points in mind the production.
and it is apt in the lean years to authors of the White Paper state that figures of Arst-line strengths lead to a slowing down of tech- tre a misleading criterion of com-nical development which, to be add pursued successfully, must have a parative air strengths. and that "in the present case the aug-background of production.
Lord Swinton contines that the mentation of offensive and defen-
frst-line strength of the Air Force sive power which will result from the revised plans is greatly in ex- cess of the numerical Increase just Search for technical advance must under the revised programine-129 go on continuously and among its squadrons with 1,750 first-line air- mentioned."
and 580 first-line aircraft, Overseas needs are not forgot-other preoccupations the industry craft-will compare with 53 squad- ing four new auxiliary squadrons te. "The Royal Air Force also must see to it that even during rons
expansion period adequate which represented our strength on to be formed for co-operation with has responsibilities in the general the
are given to April 1, 1936. "The existing 25 quadrons overseas will be main- Lained during 1936 at a first-line research and development,
strength of approximately 270 air- craft, though the formation by 1939 of a further 12 squadrons for has been, ap- services overseas proved.
same time some addition will be made to the numbers "of aircraft. Includ-
the
the Territorial Army, the new pre-scherne of Imperial defence. With thought and effort gramme will increase the first-line our wide Imperial responsibilities, strength of the Royal Air Force in the ability to reinforce a threaten- this country, bringing up the totaled area in sufficient time and in to approximately 1.750 aircraft. sufficient strength demands exclusive of the Fleet Air Arm:"
location of air units at convenient The programme. It will be noted, places on the strategic air routes. is not simply one of expanding The Government propose an in- numbers
crease amounting to approximate- ly twelve squadrons for this pur- pose."
"The
Importance
of
After recalling that the expan- sion programme approved last year range and load is recognized, and bigger proportion of medium was designed to bring the strength
In the next paragraph the of the Force at home to a total of and heavy bombers will be found
In the new Force than in the old. White Paper states that the five 123 squadrons with approximately
Further, the great strides in de regular squadrons at present allot 1,500 first-line" aircraft. the White
sign and construction "made
ted for co-operation with the Re- Paper continues: "That pro- gramme is proceeding according through the initiative and enter-gular Army will be reorganized to prise of the aircraft industry in provide seven squadrons, each of to plan, but new developments in
the past two years are now ready twelve aircraft. The strength of design will render it possible to
for use in large-scale production, the Fleet Air Arm in first-line make great additions to the strik- Ing power of the Force. The latest with resultant big increases in the aeroplanes will be brought up to types of machine which will short-tange, striking power and mobility substantially higher figures in the
course of the next few years. ly come into production show such Improvements. in speed, range and carrying capacity as greatly to in- crease the "operational effective- tess of the squadrons to be equip- ped with them.
THE UPWARD
TREND
British Buyers Becoming
“Bigger-car Minded”
of the air arm.
How clearly the British lead in realized abroad was design is shown by Lord Swinton, Secretary of State for Air. in a speech at Cambridge the evening of the
TECHNICAL ADVANCE
ESTIMATES INCREASE
a big The Air Estimates show increase over any previous peace- time year at a gross total of £43,- 490,000, which exceeds the original
"The Fleet Air Arm is to be in- estimates for 1935 by £19,639.500 and the final estimates for that creased during the year by 27 year (including supplementaries) | first-line aircraft. Proposals are!
£12,488 500. Several millions also under corisideration for a re- by are in the form of contributions ⚫rganization of catapult units. On a strength approximately from other sources, the chief being this basis the Fleet Air Arm will more than three millions from the attain Admiralty on account of the Fleet equivalent to 21 squadrons with a Air Arm, and the net Air Esti- first-line strength of 217 airerart mates for the coming year total by the end of the current year. therefore £39 millions, which is There will be "further substantial more than £1 milions above the increases in the Fleet Air Arm in Estimates presented a year ago. 1937 and subsequent years." These substantial increases
in- The Air Minister comments that dicate that the first expansion the productive capacity of the air- programme is well under way: the craft and engine industries has On the Industrial side the Paper present Estimates do not cover the refers to great and pressing pro- cost of the further expansion out- blems on the effective solution of tined in the White Paper.
MOTOR
JOTTINGS
POPULAR DIESEL GOOD SPORT FOR BRITISH BUSES
SMALL CARS
Amatull "suit of the reduced GERMANY'S SEARCH FOR
horse-power tax which has been
in furce fot the past twelve A CAR FOR THE MILLION months or so, and of the general
Improvement in Anancial putlook,
is the increasing popularity of On many occasions Herz Hitler
in
of cars
1936
IN EGYPT
A CALENDAR THAT PRO-number of
MISES WELL AT HOME
AND ABROAD
larger-engined cars in this coun-
has demonstrated his keen in- are
Now let us see what sporting try. Models of this nature
terest in the 'production
fale is to be provided for our en- now offered by several British of 25 manufacturers, an engine
and motor cycles for the million. tertainment in 1936. First-from hp. or more being avaliable
Instance the decision to sweep January 25th-30th-there is the one or two instances at no extr
away taxes on new vehicles, the Monte Carlo Rally, in itself one of the greatest adventures that cost compared with a smaller unit
can arise from motoring; and in the same size of chassis. It is fact that users of motor cycles clear from the evidence of the under 200 cc. nced not undergo that will be followed-March 24th-
(Continued on Page 3).
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ן:
HONG KONG BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
All donations gratefully received by the Hon. Treasurer Mrs. M. J. De Ville;
1. 265, The Peak.
Old Clothes" at
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THE FINEST TYRES MADE
INDIA
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GIANT HIGH PRESSURE (Ribbed)
(illustration to right)
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Maximum For Heavy Service Vehicles and Buses. ndleage: maximum safety for loads. maximum com- fort for passengers,
large Recent additions to the
buses. Thornycroft operating in Egypt include 24 "Lightning" class 18 wheelbase through the "chassis supplied
makers' branch in Chiro to the The Egyptian State Railways. special bodywork had been con- the 'Railways' own structed in workshops and the complete vehl: cles delivered to Kitty Bros., who' are operating them for the Rall- ways under the name of the "Société Orientale D'Autobus."
With these latest vehicles in service the number of Thornycroft
roads and registration figures that driving tests, and the Govern- 28th--by the RAC's Rally, pot buses operating in Egypt is now
romantic, perhaps, "but many motorists are now enjoying ment's encouragement of alterna- quite so the benefits of higher-rated cars tive fuels to petrol. Now, how-goed, fun, none the lesa. Later close on 200.
than have been generally used in ever. cortes the promise
recent years.
biggest step forward of
ear production
of the all in in Ger-
In carrying out Road Tests re-popular cently, "The Autocar" staff has many. had an "opportunity of confirming It is said in authoritative circles that at long last one or two of that the celebrated designer Dr. our best-known manufacturers are
Porsche has been
affair
fair share of
comes that very friendly the Scots, Rally, from June 1st to 5th, tn addition to the Welsh
rather more than "version from July 14th to 18th the troub es resulting therefrom!.
good, sound competitions. all
Then the racing calendar is where enthusiast can meet enthu- commissioned slast, with nim experience all tull, with almost every kind of kinds of adventures. with him; race that any man could want, for any type of car, at home or talk them over afterwards."
abroad, from that peculiar but Trials "fans" are already locking likeable business, the Brooklands forward to the Land's End (April meeting, in no wise resembling 10th-11th) the Edinburgh (Mayanything else at all, to the trials 29th-30th), the
(De-and tribulation of twenty-four cember 5th), the Brighton-Beer hours at Le Mans (June 13th- (June 20th), the Colmore Trophy
twelve in the French | 14th), or 22nd) and the Inter-
to the Dr. Porsche is not the only de- (February
Grand Prix (June 28th), Amall Club Team Trial (April 25th)-to shorter, but just as exciting, mo signer at work upon
four-seater affairs-knowing well what they (September 3rd), of the new 1- as the bore and number of the'; saloon on the stocks which is to will have to face and, peculiarly litre race in the Isle of Man (May
cost. £100, and the intention is to, enough, liking it! market it next year when road-
producing a big, moderately priced by Herr Hitler to design a popular car which really justifies itself by Diesel-engined runabout, that the the easy and powerful top gear design exists, and that it embodies performance it affords. This is a a two-cylinder engine at the rear direction in which for too long our of the chassis. With Government cars have been inadequately com subsidy, the little runabout 18 to petitive with American products. cost the equivalent of £75. It is
were termed the Volkswagen. hampered as our designers in the past by a widespread need as and hampered for economy. they still are to some extent by handicap upon dimension such reports of a small
41
Gloucester
an arbitrary tax which places a. Diesel-engined vehicle'; we have Bay nothing of the Shelsley Walshments of the Tourist. Trophy.
engine cylinders.
It is of interest in this connec- tests are complete. tion that there is a probability in
the near future of a
concerted
appeal by the Motor Legislation
¡ 28th), of Donington-especially For those who have not as yet the Grand Prix (October 3rd),,and reached the stage in their sporting the JCC's famom old 200-Miles experience in which the mure im- Race--the International Troits portant races are possible, there (May 2nd), with in three courses' is
The In one, the Empre trophy, at also ample provision. owners, but gain in the form of mare cars Light Car Club's Relay Race (May Donington this fine (April 4th), licensed, and more men employed, 18th) alone is not only good sport, and the 500-Miles Race (Septem further reduction in motoring would result from a further retat is all the attributes of a ber 19th) to ends season which taxes, Mr. Neville Chamberlain duction in the h.p, tax, and also £rat-class race in miniature, and is sure to be at least as good as
Usually involves its patronisers in all that have gone before, will be asked to receive a deputa- a reduction in the petrol tax.
Committee on behalf of all motor- tion. Good luck to it!.
ing
interests private
mantifaéturers, and so on-for
Nothing
GIANT EXTRA LOW PRESSURE (Super Bus Type) bottom left illustration)
For use
Buses 43
and Luxury cushioned comfort. combined with economy, is the paramount consideration,
Coaches
safety
where
and
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