In the House of Lords on Thursday week Lord Montagu
of -Beaulieu made a long speech on the Air Service which was packed with information. He urged the Government to
establish a Board, and later a Ministry, of Aviation. This was necessary to recover our supremacy of the air at the front. The arguments against the creation of an Air 'Ministry had been answered in advance when the Ministry of Munitions was created. " One element, one service," was the motto with which the Government ought to tackle this question. The function of a Board would be to direct policy, supply, and construction, and it ought to be con- stituted of representatives of the Admiralty, the War Office, the manufacturers, and the General Staff. He foresaw the time when the Air Service would be more important to our immunity from attack than either the Navy or the Army. It was unfortu- nately true that, while there was a shortage of aeroplane engines, motor-ears were being manufactured. in excessive numbers for Staff officers. More and more powerful aeroplanes must be constructed, and, since like must. be met by like, we must also have airships.
Previous page
