A few months ago, shortly before Sir Kingsley Wood took office, there was considerable criticism of the new plan of construction then an-ounced, on the ground that it concentrated too much on the defensive to the weakening of our offend ye power. If that ever was so, he' planning has clearly been changed by Sir Kingsley Wood.
In his connection it is calculated that every country, at war will have to keep at least half its air force at home. But that certainly does not mean that we are neglecting our power to hit back. Orders were placed last year for between 5,000 and 6,000 fighters; a large margin is necessary because it is impossible to foresee the area over which they would have to fight. But concurrently our counter-offensive powers are being built up with increased reserves of bombers and trained crews. A balanced force is the aim—n secure, well defended base from which to operate, and plenty of hitting power.
A party of leading French aircraft manufacturers came over last week as guests of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors. They included M. de lEscaille, President of the Union of Aeronautical Industries, M. Louis Breguet, head of the great company of that name; and several other well-known manufacturers and technicians. They were shown round all the, principal factories and expressed unbounded admiration for the size and efficiency of what Great Britain is doing. portrait on his pass.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.