Franco-British Rivalry

France is supreme in the air. Her fighting squadrons number 140 and comprise about 1,200 modern airplanes. A network of air lines radiates from Paris to London and to all parts of the Continent, providing a large reserve of planes immediately convertible to war use and of well trained pilots. To this great air force England opposes only 35 squadrons, most of them scattered in Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia, India. English commercial air services are small in number, though highly efficient in operation. French political purposes are not too clearly defined, but there is no doubt that in the next war a rapid and overwhelming attack from the air may bring an immediate decision. English public opinion has been gradually aroused to the dangers of this situation, in which her splendid fleet might be powerless, and to disarm almost unanimous criticism Premier Baldwin last week announced an addition of 34 squadrons to the Royal Air Force, and an increase in the air appropriations amounting ultimately to -L-5,500,000 annually. Coupled with this announcement was the hope that an agreement might be arrived at with otther Governments to limit aerial armament on lines similar to those proposed at the Washington Arms Conference.

The French press greeted this suggestion almost derisively, arguing that airplanes are too easy to build to admit of limitation, or at best approving of limitation on the basis of present strength, which would give France overwhelming superiority. The French Chamber of Deputie replied by increasing Army Air Service appropriations by 31,000,000 francs ($1,873,950) to a total of 211,000,000 francs ($12,754,950), and the Naval Air Service to a total of 76,000,000 francs ($4,594,200).