§ 13. Captain BOWYERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the projected airship service to Australia and the Far East; and, in view of the value of such a fleet of airships with bases throughout the Empire as an auxiliary reconnaissance force in time of war, what is the attitude of the Admiralty to this scheme?
§ Mr. AMERYThe Admiralty view on the question of the airship service has already been given in this House. We viewed with regret the decision, for financial reasons, to abandon the existing airship service. That airships, if available in sufficient numbers, would be of great value in naval warfare is undoubted, and the possession in any future war of a considerable number of these craft would certainly be of importance to the Empire. Any development, therefore, of airships for commercial purposes would be welcomed by the Admiralty. The exact manner in which they would be used in war would depend on the circumstances.