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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0380.PDF
I/LIGHT I enemy commander. It will probably be found neces sary either to declare aircraft ineligible as parhmentaires or to enforce a strict rule that they must land (and the airman be blindfolded) at a considerable distance outside the lines of the troops to whom the flag of truce is sent; and military occupation will probably not be considered effective unless the aircraft are supplemented by some land forces—mobile columns, &c." The paper is an absorbingly interesting one, which will certainly well repay close study by all who happen to be interested in this exceedingly wide question. * «• <• Of the political events of the past week or s7^ he Ne,T two, and of the situation which led to the "vfax. °r retirement of Col. Seely from the position of Secretary of State for War, there is no need for us to speak. This is not a political journal, and, therefore, has no concern with these matters. It is per missible, however, for us to express some little regret at the manner of Col. Seely's retirement from office, for the reason that, although we have during his term at the War Office often had occasion to criticise the policy, of which he was the responsible director, with regard to matters connected with aerial defence, we nevertheless feel that he had really come to regard the subject with sympathetic appreciation of the necessities, and was doing his best to evolve a workable system. It may be unfortunate that under our present system of government it is the Minister who has to shoulder the responsibility for acts of com mission or omission, which have often to be given, for political or economic reasons, an atmosphere of being other than they are in fact—unfortunate, that is from the point of view of the Minister concerned. As a consequence he has to take the blame for a good many things the criticism for which ought more properly to rest upon other shoulders, but on the other hand he will often receive praise for things which are not initiated by him and of which he may possibly not even approve. In the matter of aviation, however, we believe that Col. Seely really took a keen personal interest, and even if at times he found it ® ® ROBERT NOT only is Robert Thelen one of the most prominent of German pilots, but he is also one of the pioneers, for his certificate is numbered 9, and he was the third to learn on a Wright biplane in Germany. For a considerable time past he has been flying the Albatros biplane, and it Major Gordon, R.F.C., N.W., flying Short 42 at the Leven Air Station. A snap from the passenger's seat at 2,000 ft. APRIL II, 1914. expedient to enunciate statements which did not always coincide with the facts, we nevertheless credit him at heart with the sincere desire to set our aerial defences on a satisfactory basis. To fhat extent we can regard his retirement as a national loss—not irreparable, perhaps, but a loss nevertheless. We doubt not that the Prime Minister, who has taken over the vacant office, will manifest the same keen interest in the subject that, for the purposes of this journal, most concerns us. There is one matter that we would impress most strongly upon Mr. Asquith, and that is that he should take to heart the words we addressed to his predecessor in our Editorial article of the 28th ult, with regard to the accidents which have happened in the Military Wing of the R.F.C. In the officers and men of that branch of the Service, right up to the head of this new great national asset, we have a magnificent personnel, keen, skilful, and prepared to encounter any risks in the service of the State. We cannot afford to allow them to run unnecessary risks by supplying them with machines that are faulty in design or construction or which have been repaired in an unskilful and slipshod manner. They risk enough for us as it is, and in return it is surely up to the country to see that they are given nothing but the very best and soundest equipment that can be obtained ; and if, unfortunately, similar accidents should in the future occur arising out of similar causes to those we commented upon in the article mentioned, we do not want to hear again that someone unknown carried out a faulty repair at some time and place both of which are undiscoverable. Such things as this must give rise to the gravest of misgiving with regard to the organisation existing in the constructional service. Apart from any question of preventing such occurrences in future, we would remind the new War Minister that those to which reference has already been made have not been satisfactorily explained, nor has any responsibility for them been fixed. We trust that Mr. Asquith will hurry on the enquiry which his predecessor in office announced would be held. ® ® THELEM. is in order to demonstrate this type of machine to the British Government officials that he is at present in England. It will be recalled that he holds the world's height record for pilot and three passengers with 3,750 metres. THE HAWK. Lieut. Oliver, R.P.C, N.W., arriving at Leven from Dundee on Borel 89 in dirty weather.
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