Parliament's Week House of Commons:

(British Commonwealth of Nations)

Passage of the Air estimates for $101,479,868 for the year 1925-26 produced a notable speech from Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of Air. Said he, referring to air fighting by the Aery:*

"This revolution is far greater than the revolution produced by the invention of gunpowder in the later Middle Ages, and for a country like ours, which up to a few years ago depended for its defense almost entirely on the sea and its Navy, this revolution means more than to any other country in the world.

"There is no use now in going into technical discussions or to exaggerate claims of Air power, as to whether such and such a number of bombs could sink a battleship. The central and undeniable fact is that an Air Force today, passing in a few moments over trenches and armies and channels and fleets, can penetrate into the very heart of this country; and, whether material damage might or might not be inflicted, could make life well nigh unendurable for popular living, mainly in the large cities.

"This vital danger we are trying to meet in the program before you. Fortunately, we are surrounded by old friends and allies, and so we can consider this issue without panic, and calmly plan the measures for developing a scheme of defense that, however remote may be the possibility of danger, is none the less necessary to our national security and status. Let us not brood morbidly over remote perils, but, rather, take a sustained interest in the problem of defense which must be faced."

In another part of his speech, the Air Secretary referred to "the greatest air power, our old friend, France; and no sane Englishman or Frenchman now dreams of strained relations between the two countries." In another passage, he continued:

"All in all, we intend to build up a system of defense which will make it not worth while for any hostile power to attack us in the air."

Ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Snowden, speaking for the Labor Party, referred to the folly of entering into an Air armaments race with France and of spending millions of pounds when the country urgently needed a reduction in taxation. Suggested he:

"Supposing France, instead of decreasing, was increasing her Air Fleet. Have we no other weapons for meeting such a menace without expanding our Air Fleet and placing an additional burden on the taxpayers? If France is building more airplanes, at whose expense will she be building them? The Chancellor of the Exchequer has a great weapon in his hand in the indebtedness of France by demanding from France some lessening of her expenditure on armaments."

Captain W. W. Benn, Liberal, urged that the Government pay more attention to civil aviation, in which field Britain is also outstripped.

After considerable discussion, the estimates were passed by 270 to 101 votes.

*The Aery is a word coined by Admiral Sir Reginald N. Custance, author of Study of War, to denote the Air Force in opposition to the Army and Navy.