At the Mansion House on Monday the Lord Mayor presided
over a meeting organized by the Aerial Defence Committee of the Navy League. Admiral Sir Edward Seymour moved the first resolution, that it was absolutely necessary for Britain to achieve complete security against attack in the air. When Naval officers, he said, supported a motion like that it showed that they believed that the Navy did not of itself provide complete protection. Admiral Sir John Hopkins seconded the resolution. The next resolution, moved by the Duke of Argyll, declared that Britain ought to have an ample margin in aircraft over the next strongest naval Power. He pointed out that even if the number of aeroplanes was enough we were almost entirely without dirigibles. Throughout all the speeches there was a deep conviction that we were playing a very dangerous waiting game, and that we might only too easily be caught napping. Finally it was decided to form a National Aeronautical Defence Association to arouse and instruct public opinion.
Previous page
