The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-07
Table Shows strength.

The year book points out that
only 1900 Of the American planes
were modern enough for emergency,
whereas Germany will have some
$500 modern craft IN 1887. Russia
is making surprising" advances and
Japan VIII spend s30.OOO.00O on ex-
naEaion.
They represented less than half
the combined strength necessary to
place the United States on anything
like an equal footing with other air
powers. in view Of American areas
to be protected" the year book said.
The United States. however.
ranked first in commercial aviation.
according to the publication. Al
though numerically Britain ranks
third as a military air power, actu-
ally it is the strongest.
Great Britain can transport air
craft on her large merchant fleet
and establish an air force in any
corner Of the world" the year book
explains. She has so merchant
ships which she might convert INTO
aircraft carriers IN time of war"
1000 Planes Available
At least 1000 planes were available
for the defense of London at the
beginning Of 1885 and THE bomb
ing squadrOns were ready to strike
at any foe on land or sea, in Braish
waters or at enemy bases anywhere
in Europe"
1T was with that in mind" the
publication continued, that Mr..
tStanley) Baldwin during 1884 re-
marked in the House of Commons
that the battle front in future would
be on the Rhine. AT the beginning
Of 1885 many experts were of the
opinion that the British front might
concelvably move eastward as-far
as North Russia or India"
The year book. explaining the de-
crease in the number of French
military planes this year as COM
pared to last, said France is junking
hundreds of planes and replacing
them with new. modern fighters.
Germany, the book said. present
ed an example of the fact that
treaties do not of themselves pre-
vent a nations arming in the air"
The publication set forth that the
Reich has the nucleus of an air
force that Is being rapidly expanded.
On Production Basis
The German program" the book
continues, "COntemplates an ex-
penditure Of S63.0OOO0O for air de-
tense in 1885. That is nearly four
times the 1884 expenditure.
The aircraft factories were placed
on a war production basis at the
beginning of 1885. The drafting
rooms, engineering laboratories and
testing stations were placed under
armed qua S day and night.
German shipyards we're given or
derS for flying boat hulls of huge
dimensions; and there. too. details
we're being jealousy guarded"
The conclusion that Germany
would have $500 combat airplanes
within the next two years was at
variance with Semi-official reports
that Germany's military air
strength already is on a par with
Great Britain.
The book said that soviet Russia
maintains "a number OF air bases.
each equipped with hundreds OF
combat planes" close 10 the from
tiers IN Europe and in Asia.
Soviets Have 500 Bombers
Russian officials in responsible
positions admit that the soviet air
force IN the Far Eastern section Of
Siberia has available more than 600
bombing planes capable of carrying
a half ton Of bombs and flying
nonstop for more than 1900 miles. "
japan is spending 100000 IN
expanding its military air force, &C
COrGinC 10 the book