War Secretary Tells Hopes of Doubling "Terrier" Personnel to Five Divisions; Great Step Forward sion, when he stated that he understood that the United Kingdom and Canadian manufacturers had reached a substantial measure of agreement, and that the initiative for negoti tions with other Empire manufacturers was under consideration,—Reuter. in so far as the Imperial Airways was concerned, was made yesterday in a spirited letter by Mr. Dismore, A sistant General Manager of Imperial Airways, to Mr. Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister.
Mr. Dismore declared that the land aircraft ordered for 1934-35 for the European and Empire services were London, June 28.
Important changes in the antiaircraft defence organization, including the doubling of the Territorial Army anti-aircraft personnel, were announced in the House of Commons this afternoon by the Secretary of State for War, Mr. Leslie Hore-Belisha Replying to a question, Mr, Hore-Belisha made the following state-mem: "In-1935, ihe entire responsibility for anti-aircraft defence at home was vested in the Territorial Army. At that time the actual strength of the air defence formations in the Territorial Army was under 2000, all ranks, "On January 1, 1936, the frst anti-aircraft division was formed.
Its strength at me beginning of 1936 was 5,200. all ranks, By lhe beginning of January 1937. the second anti-aircraft division was formed, its strength being just under 7,000, By the present month of this year the total strength of the two divisions had risen to 43,000,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.