§ Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for War how many aeroplanes his Department possesses which are capable of flying to the Danish or Norwegian coast and returning without alighting?
§ Colonel SEELYNone.
§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in France a prize of £16,000 is being offered for an apparatus for securing the stability of aeroplanes; and if it is intended to stimulate invention in this country by similar means?
§ Colonel SEELYThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.1654W As regards the second part of the question a committee is now considering the subject.
§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Secretary of State for War if the information in the possession of the Operations Directorate of the General Staff is to the effect that there are only 150 aeroplanes in the possession of the German Army; if he is aware that the total number of civil and military aeroplanes in Germany capable of rendering military service is between 600 and 700; and if he can now say that, taking the whole mobilised strength of the two nations, we have four times as many military aeroplanes in proportion as Germany?
§ Colonel SEELYThe statement alluded to referred to figures published by the "Morning Post" and excluded any estimate of aeroplanes privately owned in either country. The German Government has not published any official figures of their present numbers, and I am not therefore in a position to add anything to the statement mentioned.