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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0293.PDF
MARCH 21, 1914. it. We cannot doubt that it will play an effective part in military and naval arrangements. We are without doubt in numbers, qaality, and experience, far in front of any other couDtry in our seaplane work. Money will be required for the development of this Service in the next few years, and the results will be ultimately remunerative in other directions. Various functions will be discharged by the seaplanes and aeroplanes of the Naval Service. The first function is scouting at sea either from the land or from a seaplane-ship—that is a special ship which will take a number of seaplanes out with the Fleet, and will enab'e them to reconnoitre from a moving base. In the second place, they will be extremely useful for watching the coast. We rely for our security on our East coast against raids very largely upon patrol flotillas which are grouped at strategic points, and can be summoned and directed to any point where an attempted landing is being made. No assistance can be more valuable than the assistance rendered by aeroplanes and seaplanes in bringing information in regard to which time is vital to the bases where the patrol flotillas are held in readi ness. Of course, the heavy seaplanes which we are developing now will carry formidable explosives, which can be dropped on trans ports and disturb a landing, even before the patrol flotilla can arrive. The seaplanes fly by night as well as by day in ordinary weather. They carry wireless telegraphy which enables them to signal 120 miles effectively, and quite recently they have been able to receive a message while in the air. In the third place, these will be of great value for the defence of vulnerable points. Oil tanks, magazines, workshops, power houses, and all the other nerve centres of naval power have in the last few years been exposed to the indefinite menace of aerial attack. Passive defence against such an attack is perfectly hopeless and endless. You would have to be on the roof of the world to be quite sure. Something may be done, and has to be done, by the pro vision of guns which fire upwards, and by searchlights which train throughout the entire arc. But the only real security which sound military principles will rely upon is that you should be master of your own air. Nor is this unduly difficult. The war aeroplane flying over its own country unhampered by floats and close to its own base must be a far more efficient fighting instrument than (Tom any similar aircraft that goes across the sea. When it comes to manoeuvring or the carrying of guns or bombs the home aeroplane will have decisive advantages over the intruder. In the Military Wing we are in a position of effective strength, and any hostile aircraft, aeroplane or seaplane, which reach our coast during the coming year would be promptly attacked in force by a swarm of very formidable hornets. This is the true military protection of vulnerable points. We have built or ordered fifteen airships, of which ten are large or medium-sized vessels of over forty-rive miles an hour speed. Later in the session I shall bring half-a-dozen of these vessels over the House of Commons in order that the doubts which may lurk in some breasts as to the existence of aircraft in possession either of the Naval or Military Wings may be dissipated. With regard to the airship, I must avow my belief in the future of the aeroplane, but it is undoubtedly true that the airship has a much wider radius of action. Forty-eight hours' radius of action is within the compass of the modern airship. It has a much greater carrying power, and it can work much more efficiently at night. We have got a thoroughly good personnel of officers and men, and the airship section will fuim in principle a second stage in the life of the aeroplane officer, and offer the prospects of a longer career than would be possible if he were to confine himself only to aeroplanes. Because there is no doubt that they fall exclusively in the province of youth—I mean that the work ol flying an aeroplane requires a very young man. The loss of life during 1913 in the Naval Wing has been limited to three officers, of whom only one was killed in flying a naval aeroplane. 130,000 miles were flown in all weathers, and mainly across country, but of course we must expect a certain proportion of accidents, and in the air all forfeits are serious. As the seaplanes and airships extend their action seaward, as they will do (his year and next year, some loss must also be expected from other causes than those with which we have hitherto had to reckon. Although the machines and flyers get better every month, they also fly in more dangerous wind. But I am satisfied that no unnecessary risks are run. Naval officers are very handy and are competent and good mechanics, and like their comrades of the Military Wing are very proud of having the oppor tunity to serve their country in so conspicuous a fashion in time of peace. A view of the Olympia Aero Show taken from the east of the hall. 293 flight " Copyright.
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