ARMY AEROPLANES. (Hansard, 14 December 1911)

§ Mr. SANDYS

I believe that the Under-Secretary of State for War is prepared to-night to make a declaration as to the terms of the competition which is to take place next June for military aeroplanes, but before he does that I would like to take this opportunity—probably the last opportunity we shall have, before the Army Estimates are considered—of again drawing his attention to the inadequate preparation at the present moment, at any rate in my opinion, for the British Army with regard to this important branch of military science. The Under-Secretary may have noticed that a very interesting lecture was delivered a few days ago by Captain Burke, of the Royal United Service Institution, in which he drew attention to the fact that, owing to the introduction of this new arm, a revolution would be accomplished in warfare in the future, and I think that some of the observations 2674 which were made at that lecture are worthy of the very serious consideration of the right hon. Gentleman. He pointed, out that in the future the first phase of, warfare would be a struggle for the supremacy of the air, and that out of that struggle for the supremacy of the air one or other side would emerge victorious, namely, that side which possessed the most skilful pilots and the largest number of highly-trained officers, and, when that struggle was decided, the side which emerged victorious would have an enormous advantage in the subsequent campaign, because that side would be able to obtain information of the greatest value which would be denied to its opponent. Now under those circumstances, in view of the vital fact that men and numbers of machines and officers are absolutely essential in the consideration of this question, I would urge upon the right hon. Gentleman whether, when he is coming to a decision with reference to this particular question on the next Army Estimates, he will not be prepared to give a very generous allowance for military aviation. I would call his attention to the fact that the present situation is absolutely unsatisfactory, and in my opinion highly dangerous.

Within the last month or so we have admittedly passed through a very serious international crisis. We have been, it is generally believed—and I think there is a good deal of ground for the belief—on one occasion, at any rate, on the very threshold of war. If war had actually broken out, and it had been necessary for us to despatch the expeditionary force of, I suppose, 160,000 men to the Continent, I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman what our position would, have been with reference to aviation. We should have had about six officers, trained military avaitors, who would have had some practical experience of the work; but so far as our generals are concerned, they are absolutely unaccustomed to the new conditions which will admittedly prevail owing to the new arm being introduced into warfare. I do not think I should be over-stating the case if I say that under the circumstances we should have been courting disaster.

I understand the right hon. Gentleman has a new scheme in view, by which 100 officers are to be detached from their regiments for a short course—"short" is the actual word used in the Regulations—in military aviation. These officers, after 2675 passing this course and obtaining their military certificates, are to return to their regiments on the understanding, as the right hon. Gentleman has stated, that in the event of mobilisation they are to be recalled from their regiments and form an aviation corps. I venture to say that that is a totally unsatisfactory solution of the position. Firstly, it cannot be expected that we shall have an efficient aviation crops in any way comparable to that of the French Army unless we have a corps of highly-trained officers who are permanently detached for this particular duty, and devote their whole time to the subject and practice of aviation. Then I would like to call attention to the position that will be created in the regiments themselves. As we are aware there is not an overwhelming supply of regular officers in the Army now, and if on mobilisation it is known that those officers who have passed an aviation course will be detached from their regimental duties for service with the Aviation Corps, surely it will be the object of commanding officers rather to discourage rather than to encourage their officers to undertake this aviation service.

I will also call the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to the fact that although the numbers of officers in the regular Army are fairly good, so far as the special reserve is concerned we are about 1,200 officers short. And the territorial Army is 1,700 officers short. Under the circumstances I would say, How can the right hon. Gentleman suggest it is desirable that on mobilisation one hundred officers should be detached from the Regular Army for aviation purposes? I venture to say this, and I hope the right hon. Gentleman will give it his consideration in the Army Estimates, that the only way in which we can get a thoroughly efficient corps is for the War Office to make up their mind to have a permanent Aviation Corps of about forty or fifty officers, permanently working at this particular service, continually practising and accustoming themselves to working with troops. I maintatin that that is the only policy which will give us an Aviation Corps suitable to our needs, which will supply us with officers having an efficient training and adequate in numbers. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will take these facts into consideration, and that he will also be able to announce the terms and conditions of the aeroplane competition which is to take place.