§ 14. Viscount SANDONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the Government policy as to a nucleus being trained and retained for operating artillery observation balloons; and whether these could be put into the field immediately on the outbreak of war?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Captain Douglas King)It is not anticipated that balloon units would be required in the opening phases of a war, but they might become necessary as the war progresses. With a view to the development of the art of ballooning and in order to provide a nucleus for expansion after the outbreak of a war, a school of ballooning is being maintained by the Air Ministry.