1938-03-16 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 16, 1938.

Page

BRITISH AIR FORCE REARMAMENT SPEED-UP Lt.Col. Muirhead's Outline On Air Estimates

Foundation For Expansion Beyond Programme

London, To-day.

LINK TRAINERS”

any further expenditure necessitat-

A very satisfactory adjunct to ed would appear in the form of sup- actual practice in the air is the plementary estimates. link-trainer. By March 31, most]

LEVEL PROGRESS aircraft centres will be equipped Examining criticisms of the pro- with one, and eventually at least gress of rearmament, Col. Muirhead one link-trainer would be provided admitted that it was very dificult for every flying station at home in a programme of such magnitude and overseas, including India and and variety being carried out with aircraft-carriers in the Fleet Air such speed to ensure level progress all round. There w was no harm in Dealing briefly with civil avia-that if there was no serious tag

The speeding up effort was the recurring note in a Ar

speech made by Lt. Col. A. J. Muirhead, Under-tion, Lt. Col. Muirhead reviewed on any particular item. Both in Secretary for Air, introducing the Air Estim-recent extensions and said the regular industry and in the shadow ates in the House of Commons yesterday.

total route mileage regularly scheme, engines were somewhat operated on British Empire routes ahead of air-frames but the air-

above 1936.

and

East.

instruments.

Lt. Col. Muirhead showed that the estimated ex-in 1937 totalled almost 80,000 farmes situation itself was encour- penditure of £103,000,000 -(including £30,000,-miles, which was 12,000 miles agraing. Also there was no lack of 000 defrayable from the Defence Loan) repre-

FÅR EAST PROGRESS.

ORDERS ABROAD sented a 25 per cent, increase on last year.

In regard to work abroad, pro- They were using foreign ex- The Estimates include foundation for further ex-gress had been made in provision perience and placing British

pansion beyond the current programme.

accommodation in the Far abroad to bridge gaps until British Amplifying particulars previous-

production, which was always ar- "May I express gratitude for the ranged, became available. Instancing ly given in the House, Lt-Col Muirhead said that in addition to from the rulers of the Federated revolving turrets which had been generous gift of Str. $2,500,000 the production of power-operated the Metropolitan Air Force of 123 Malay States towards the cost of designed and made at home, the squadrons, there were 26 squadrons additional squadrons to be sta- Under Secretary said the position overseas and a Fleet air arm of 201

tioned in Malaya." (Cheers). squadrons.

Reuter.

EXPANSION

CRITICS ANSWERED

London, To-day.

For the Labour Party, Mr. Mon-

and unfavourable rumours in cir-

We were midway between the 1,500 first-line aircraft aimed for March, 1937, and 1,750 March.

POWER TURRETS

at

next

NEW REVIEW:

regarding this essential requirement illustrated well that relative strength was not a mere matter of counting Colonel Muirhead said the air what were apparently complete air- estimates disclosed no specially new craft but that there was every rea- Output from the "shadow" fac-features but demonstrated the con- son to believe that on a conserva- tories could be expected shortly. tinuance of the Policy and program-tive basis they were as good as Orders for certain instruments me already decided upon and well any foreign country, and probably tague demanded an independent in connection with blind flying were known towards the implementations better. He mentioned in connection inquiry into the military side of being temporarily placed in the of which consistent progress had with a need for looking ahead to the Air Ministry on the lines of United States in order to leave already been made. He added, how a possible air speed of 500 m.p.h. the Cadman Committee on Civil nothing undone to achieve actual lever, that as the Prime Minister had that new wind tunnel was being Aviation and spoke of criticisms efficiency as soon as possible. indicated, the Government were built at Royal Aircraft Establish- engaged on a fresh review of the ment at Farnborough. Between culation regarding the organisa- As a consequences to the oosta situation following the international April 1935, and March 1938, 4,500 tion of rearmament in air.

cles to turning guns by hand events of the last few days. He pilots and 40,000 airmen and boys The Prime Minister rose imme- against the rush of air, owing to was not at present in a position to entered the Royal Air Force. The diately to state the attitude of the greatly increased speed of air-say what result this review might meant an annual average of 1,500 He said he did not craft, power operated revolving have in the acceleration or exten- pilots compared with a typical pre- sion of the Air Force programme expansion year of 300 pilots-Bri- admit there was any parallel be- turrets, enclosing man and gun,

now before the House but of course tish Wireless tween the functions of the Air were being installed.. Ministry in relation to civil avia- In this essential requirement tion and in relation to the Royal Air Force. The latter touched on vital interests and the security of country, for which the respon- sibility could not be shared with any Committee of Enquiry.

Goverment.

ONE MAIN DRIVE

If the development of civil avia- tion had lent itself to criticism this was due to the very fact that by the necessities of the case the whole energies of the Air Secre tary and his Department and of the aircraft industry, had been devot- ed to pushing forward the enorm ously accelerated Air Force pro-

gramme.

there was every reason to be- lieve that we were better than any foreign country.

the

L-Col. Muirhead dwelt on greatly increased speed of fighters since the War. This necessitated 2 new type of faster firing machine- gun.

Greater comfort in aircraft and heating arrangements were being closely studied.

DOMINIONS PERSONNEL

On the subject of personnel, ha said that the Cranwell programme for 1938 comprises nominated Do- minions candidates.

"The continued response from these entrants, many of whom came Recapitulating the difficulties in here on their own initiative, has volved for industry and the Air been very satisfactory, and is in- Ministry itself in the vast pro- deed gratifying.” (Cheers). gramme of expansion, the Premier

The 1938 programme for airme

paid tribute to the energy and abil stood at 17,000.

ity with which they had been over-In the forthcoming year the ag

for boy entrants was reduced from

come.

Answering a Labour member, 153 to 15. He emphasised they who interjected remark suggesting would need more skilled men of al that progress compared unfavour-kinda.

ably with that of Germany, the Premier asked whether he wanted

them to imitate Germany in the facturers with questions which, he method she had employed in regi menting German industry for the production of armaments.

NOT YET

“We may have to, but at any rate we are not going to do so until we are convinced that nothing else will serve our turn.”

Observing that the harrying and distracting of officials and manu-

said, did not appear to him to be based on very competent or well- informed opinion, was not a good way of ensuring efficiency, the Pre- mier ended with an appeal to al sides to put their efforts together, get on with their jobs and provide the Air Force the country needed. in shortest possible time. British Wireless.

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