London, June 17.
The Air Ministry announces that the Air Council has decided to carry out important changes in the system of command and administration in the home commands of the Royal Air Force in order to provide appropriate organization for an enlarged force. which will function with speed and eMiciency in peace or in wa The new organization provides fou commands, as follows: the first, a bomber command, controlling bomber squadrons; the second, a fighter command, controlling fighter squadrons of the army, ce-operation squadrons and observer corps. the third, a coastal command, controlling fying-boat and general reconnaissance squadron and administration and shore-training of squadrons of the fleet Air Arm; and the fourth, a training command, which will, with a few exceptions, control all training units at home.
The alr defence of the country will be vested in three operational commands. close ce-ordination, between which will be directly exercised by the Air Ministry.
The first appointments to these commands are, to the bomber command, Air Marshal Sir John M. Sleel; to the fighter command, Air Marshal Sir Hugh C. T. Downing: to the coastal command, Air Marshal Sir Arthur M. Longmore; and, to the {raining command. Air Marshal Sir Charles S, Burnett, Far-reaching changes affecting the administration are also introduced.
The main objects are to provide for the decentralization to administrative duties, for the exercise of fuller powers of responsibility by various commanders, and for reduction, 10 a minimum, of the links in the chain et command in order to avoid delays and duplicated effort. be brought Into fore for the bomber, fighter and training commands la July, and the change in the coastal command will follow shortly afterwards—Wireless through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.