The New York herald., 1922-07-23
ENGLAND DEVELOPS
ITS AIR DEFENSES
As NAVY DWINDLES
Force Maintained as Sep
arate Unit and for Of
fense Is Demanded.
SECRET TESTS ARE HELD
Ships Outmaneuvered and
Make Poor Showing in
Tests.
Special Cable to The NEW York HERALD.
CopurioIlt, 1929, bu TIE NEw YORK HERALD

Special Cable to The NEW YoRK HERALD.
Copyright, 1922 by THE NEW York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
London. July 22. !
Insistence on an aerial development
which will give the British Isles the
security afforded them by the fleet be-
fore the war has increased remarkably
since the Washington conference and
has resulted in determined struggle
for an air force maintained as a sepa-
rate unit and intrusted with offensive
measures.
The dispute is rapidly reaching
crisis, and it is expected that 1t Will
soon be decided by q parliamentary
committee. There is an inclination in
the lobbies of the House of Commons
to allow the air force to handle de-
fensive measures, but the contention
of both the army and navy that 1t is
necessary for them to have their own
air arm in their maneuvers may lead
TO a split, which is already threatened
by the widespread dissatisfaction. The
Increased Importance of aircraft as the
result of the scrapping of portion OF
the navy has made the growing fric-
ton a serious problem for the Govern
ment.
Press Takes UP Fight.
The major portion of the press is
fighting for an air defense second to
none in Europe. 1t is not mentioning
the possible enemy, but is emphasizing
Frances intensive air development. Inc
newspapers declare that England S
xs,tttx hoy tho strongest
navy depends entirely on strong air
force.
These arguments have bolstered the
air force, heretofore handicapped by
limitations, and 1t Is making progress
toward fulfilling its. expectations. In
recent test between aircraft and the
navy similar to the tests used In Amer
lea the aircraft out maneuvered the
fleet and trapped it, so that had 1t been
a real battle the fleet would at least
have been at a serious disadvantage.
The tests, which were carried out by
the Admiralty, are being surrounded with
the utmost secrecy. 1t is now reported
that technical problems arose which
made the demonstration by no means
conclusive, and that these are problems
which battle conditions alone can solVe.
But it is known that as far as 1t went
the experiment was complete triumph
for the aircraft.
An attack was carried out by torpedo
planes against portion Of the fleet
which had been instructed to be pre-
pared for such an event and had been
informed of the date and time of the at
tack 1t was at first intended to use
sobsolete vessels as Is done in America,
but it was found that this would have
detracted from the practical value of the
demonstration. The torpedoes which
III x..tN Df1 fk,af
of with the usual charge. When they
hurst the markers had no difficulty N
noting where a hit was made. The ships
were equipped with anti-aircraft guns.
Ships Outmnneuvered.
Suddenly a fleet of airplanes. flying
high and out of range, observed the
vessels which maneuvered so as to
present the least possible target. But
this was merely a decoy on the part of
the airplanes, for suddenly smoke
screen was planted around the fleet by
means of bombs and then, unobserved
by the ship gunners. a dozen torpedo
planes flew low, obtained an excellent
position for broadside. and fired their
torpedoes at the shortest possible range.
The time of the maneuver from the
time the airplanes were observed until
they disappeared in the smoke after fir
ing their torpedoes was only eighty Sec
onds.
The firing was so accurate that the
umpire awarded LOO per cent. hits, 80
per cent. of which struck vital parts Of
the ships. All the attacking planes re-
turned safely to their bases. This was
something like a humiliation for the old
fleet advocates who had been scoffing
at the claims OF the aircraft supporters.
Navy men, who want their own air arm,
maintain that the tests proved the ne
cessity for it, But the aircraft men
argue that the navy should work with
them rather than they for the navy.
II the Imperial Defense Committee ac-
cepts the plea for separate air arms not
controlled by the Air Ministry the po-
sition of the air force will be entirely
changed, the army and navy each being
allotted portion Of the present air
force. The navy wants to take full
charge of its own air army and have
the Air Ministry merely supply the ma
chimes. The navy men insist 1t Is alb
surd to have a defense fleet handled by
another service The air force does not
agree and contends that fun aerial eff
cheney can only be gained through one
controlling authority. adding that split
would be a calamity for the nation
Sir William johnson Hicks, who Is
heading the Parliamentary Air Conn
mittee says "The simple fact Is that
the air force Is potentially more impor-
tant than the navy and nothing must
be done to interfere with its develop
ment."
The Air Ministry states that there
are now $50 planes available for pur-
poses connected with the navy. The Air
Ministry is keeping In closest touch with
every development in aviation 1t Is
confident that Great Britain will win
the Schneider cup race In Naples in Au-
gust with the worlds fastest flying boat.
The construction Of this new flying boat
Is being done with the greatest secrecy,
but II Is claimed that 1t will make 145
mites an hour
Similar secrecy Ia being maintained
regarding the new racing monoplane
produced by the Bristol company which
II is hoped will win the aerial Derby
In August Final experiments are being
made 80 that this machine will reach
a speed of 240 miles an hour. 1t Is
equipped with a landing gear that can
be folded up. The Air Ministry thinks
that with these and other developments
Great Britain will soon lead the world
In aviation,