London, Jan. 29.
Special importance was attached ioday to the appointment of Lord Chatfield, Admiral of the Fleet, as new Minister for the Ca-ordination of National Defence in place of Sir Thomas Inskip, nominated Dominions Secretary.
Lord Chatfield's appointment, it was stated, will mark the start of military activity by far exceeding all that has been done up to the present in the field of national defence.
Naval quarters showed particular interest in the announcement made by Earl Stanhope, First Lord of the Admiralty, who stated that British shipyards will soon be turning out more than one war vessel per week. They held it most probable that one or two out of the seven battleships now under construction would be 40,000-tonners.
Such large ships are being built! circles stated. Crews necessary for the new vessels will be provided through the creation of special categories of Reserves, and no mobilization will take place.
With regard to land forces, observers stated it was as yet "impossible to predict the results of the present recruiting campaign."
Upon the Royal Air Force, well-informed quarters stated that the present rate of production of 400 planes per month will be brought up to 700 planes monthly by the middle of the year.
This will mean that the difference between German and British rates of production will decrease rapidly without the British aviation industry having to deal with the difficulties imposed upon Germany's industry.
In the Reich, machinery and tools in aviation plants are already depreciated and partly worn out to permit the British Navy not only|because of the too speedy rate of maintain, but even increase its production, it was pointed out—
October to study Indian defence problems, signed a report this morning.
Lord Chatfeld is leaving for London by air tomorrow morning to take his Cabinet appointment as inister for the Ca-ordination of Defence. In an interview, Lord Chatfield said that time was an important factor in defence today. "While India is growing up politically end industrially." he added, "she must be able to feel safe—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.