24 NOVEMBER 1923, Page 17

AN AIR FORCE ANOMALY.

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have learned that an intelligent lad, a member of a Loyalist family in the South of Ireland, has had his application to join the Royal Air Force rejected for what seem to me highly unsatisfactory reasons. The Air Ministry's excuse is that the competitive system of entry for Aircraft Apprentices is limited and that there is no need at present to widen its scope. But is it wise that Irish Loyalists should be kept out of the Services ? Is the Free State, after all, not an integral part of the British Commonwealth of Nations ? I hope that when the new Parliament meets some questions will be asked