If the suggestion is that Germany will have 30,000 first-line aircraft in May, it is sheer nonsense. figure would be more than three times the combined first-line strength of France, Britain and Germany. in October, 1918, and at that time these three countries were producing £9 altogether about 8,000 machines a month. By no possibility can Germany's production be so enormous as to enable her to maintain a first-line strength approaching the figure quoted. It may be, perhaps, 6,000 machines, of which 3,000 would be bombers—and it is the bombers, of course, that strike.
Whenever and in whatever strength the blow falls, the Royal Air Force will meet it undaunted. They will be able to feel that, even if not yet so numerous (and that disparity will soon be changed), their machines are better than the German. Confidence in horse and machine is an enormous asset to the cavalryman or the airman in war—or in peace. " 'They'll have swift steeds that follow' qu.th young Lochinvar." They will indeed, it they are to outrun the speediest of the new British types that will be in service before long. The Hurricanes and Spitfires are not the final weapons of the British armoury.
Already there is ground for hold-sure that the Allies will be able to ing that the Allies equipment is rely with confidence upon that in- superior to the German. Sir Kinsley exhaustible source of supply beyond wood stated in the House of Com-Their own production mons on December 12 that the British fighters were better than the Messers-output, should make dimitts; they had greater gun-power, yond possibility of doubt that the he said, better flying characteristics, German challenge in the air will be end superiority both in control and met and mastered before the war in manoeuvrability.
ended.
A Messerschmitt 109 which was The Empire Air Scheme will have captured intact by the French was Britain, another and more permanent result tested against the Curtiss and Morane fighters and was found to be dis-the conflict.
Statea in his broadcast on October tinctly outclassed by them. It was found to have a rather high stalling 11, it will go far to make Australia speed and to be in some other "so nearly a first-class air. Power respects inferior to the French that an enemy with long lines of machines. The latter are, in turn, communications will hesitate to at-considered by. most experts to be not tack, for a substantial air force must quite so good as the British fighters. be a powerful deterrent to the descent Certainly the latter have proved on Australian waters of vulnerable themselves to be far too good for transports filled by invading troops." the German bombers, over a score of Another Australian statesman, Mr. which have been brought down over W. M. Hughes, has described the this country without the loss of a aeroplane "a gift from the gods to single British fighter.
Australia" A strong Australian air A Heinkel 111K which was shot force, he has stated, would be able down in Scotland on October 28 was to protect the country from invasion carefully examined and, according to by destroying or disabling the trans-a report in "The Aeroplane" for ports and supply-ships which attempt-January 5, 1940, the result of the ed to make a landing. technical survey was this:—the struc-'The circumstances are hardly contural design and construction were ceivable 4n which Canad", bordered sound, the materials excellent, the as she is, would have similarly to finish good. On the other hand the repel an invasion from overseas, but location and power of the armament her strengthened air force would be were poor and not to be compared at least an additional safeguard and with the British bombers of equivawould be available, moreover, for lent size. "There is no doubt that employment in other imperial ser-compared with Vickers-Armstrong vices in which the interests of Canada Wellington contemporary with it and might be at stake. So, too, would of about the same size the latest the Australian air fore" and the He.111K is inferior in most respects." expansion of, that force. of Australia's capacity for fon of Britain's Engines Best aircraft has.a very important bearing It was because Britain beat Ger-upon the defence of Cingapore, many in the development of aero Hongkong and, possibly, India, engines that at the close of the last war the British Air Force succeeded World Peace in establishing an ascendancy over Air power such as the British the German. Germany had no Empire is creating at present will be engines as good as the Rolls-Royce an added guarantee not only of the Eagle and the Bentley Rotary of that Empires security but of word time. These were engines of about peace. There is no possible reason 250 h.p. the Rolls-Royce of 375 h.p. had why the nations of the British Com-only just been brought into use and monwealth should ever harbour any the Napier Lion of 450 h.p. was still of aggression. They have all in production. Today engines of the Lebensraum they need. Their 1,000 h.p. and more are in use. The interests are bound up with peace, latest Merlin, Taurus, Pegasus and not with war.
Dragger engines are all of this range The British Navy has been a sen-of power. Germany has her Daimlertind of peace and order in the past.
Benz and Jumo engines, which have Imperial air forces of a as great a power, but Britain still comparable to that of tue Empire's holds the advantage here. It is an fleets will equally make for stability. advantage which is likely to be For Great Britain herself the posses-increased when Germany's lack of sion of an air force at least as strong essential metals becomes more as that of any Power within striking pronounced under the pressure of range is an essential condition of her the Anglo-French "blockade" Still security. It was because she allowed more will shortage of petrol become a her strength in the air to be sur-difficulty in Germany as a result of passed by Germany that she was the same pressure. unable to change the tide of events There is little doubt that as the in August, 1939. She will be wiser war proceeds the Royal Air Force in the future. will gradually establish an ascendancy In September, 1939, Britain was over the Luftwaffe. Everything forced into war largely because she points to such a development. By had striven so hard for peace that, the close of the first year of war the discounting the danger of war, she initial margin of numerical superiorihad failed to make her moat in the ty which Germany possessed should air, if not on the sea, as strong as it be completely wiped out. From that should have been. It is being time the British Empire should go strengthened now, and in time. The steadily from strength to strength in testing time for it may come before the air. long. The wonder is that it has not Meanwhile, Germany may try to come before. A massed attack in the gain a decision before the sands run air was expected on the outbreak of out against her. She may strike on war. The scale of the air raid pre-land, sea and air. The Royal Air cautions taken in Britain is evidence Force is ready to ñħeet the stroke. of the expected magnitude of the Its moral could not be higher. It is assault. still the Air Force which Trenchard The reason why it did mot led. The tradition has not been materialize is probably, in part at broken. The German Air Force is a least, that thus suggested by an great one, a formidable one, but it American aer journal (U.S. cannot similarly trace its descent Air Services, Dec. 1939):—from von Hoeppner's force of 1918. From 1919 to 1935 there was a "Why haven't Paris and London and liverpool been laid flat like Barcelona gap in the German pedigree. There Was some sort of ersatz air force, a th surreptitious, boot-leg air force in the years between, but it was never a serious air arm. When, in 1935 the new German Air Force was formed it had to be hastily improvised. It still shows in some respects the marks of the semi-mass-production which went to it creation.
Undoubtedly -its inexperienced pilots paid a heavy price in human lena losses for the speed with which it Couldn't fight back. Warcaw had no aerial reply. But london and Paris and Paris are Hamburg had to be assembled. The crashes during training in Germany were immensely greater in the year before the present war than they were in Now, it seems, the storm which was threatened last autumn scheduled to break in the spring. The Luftwaffe is only waiting for the "The German Air Britain with an onslaught such as has never been known in the history of the world." Only the Fuehrer's word of command, he stated, was awaited for this fury of destruction to be let loose.
The date of its utterance is a little vague. It is to be in March, according'to some prophets. May, 1940, was Seventy Wears Hgo
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.