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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0579.PDF
judged that we must be some five or six miles from the enemy's lines. After flying on for another few minutes we decided that we must be a good distance behind the enemy's trenches, and came down from 8,000 ft. to 5,000 ft., still hidden from view in the clouds. Suddenly we caught a short glimpse of the ground through a rift in the clouds, and then immediately we were again enveloped in another. At 4,000 ft. we came out of the clouds, and could from this height see everything quite plainly." X X ' X "A few seconds after emerging the first bullets whizzed past us, and as we expected the artillery to start at any moment we made a quick turn and were soon hidden in a cloud. This is the safest hiding place, as one can then unobserved alter one's course and leave no target for the enemy. Again we came down to get a view of the ground, and succeeded in getting our photographs and notes, still flying near the clouds in case the enemy should open fire on us. We had completed our mission and were just getting ready to turn about and make for home, when, as though they had realised our purpose, the enemy did open fire. In fantry and artillery both let go at us, and the machine swayed terribly. Instinctively I glanced at my petrol gauge, which showed the tank to be nearly empty. Where had the petrol gone ? Half an hour ago the gauge had shown plenty, and now as I watched I could see it sinking. The tank had been hit, and realising this I lost no time ® ® More Aircraft from Britons Overseas. By the efforts of the Patriotic League of Britons Overseas, which was started at the end ,of last year to supplement the work of the Overseas Club, by taking in British residents in foreign countries, a fund has been raised for the purchase of seaplanes for the Navy, and a cheque for .£35,000 for the provision of a squadron of ten has just been sent to the Admiralty. The gift has been acknowledged by the First Lord in the following letter to Lord Aldenham, Vice-Chairman and Hon. Treasurer of the League :— "My dear Aldenham,—On behalf of the Board of Admiralty, I have to acknowledge with our hearty thanks the receipt of the cheque for £"55,000 which you have sent me in the name of the Patriotic League of Britons Overseas. This practical manifestation of the loyalty of the King's subjects outside his Dominions will equip the Royal Navy with a squadron of seaplanes of the latest type, to be named ' Britons Overseas.' In this manner the aim of the League will be realised and expression given to the spirit of helpful loyalty to the Empire which your report of progress shows to be shared by Britons all over the world.—Yours very truly, " ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR." Branches of the League have been started in Brazil, Chili, Bolivia, China, Japan, Morocco, Persia, &c, and British subjects abroad who are anxious to further the movement are requested to write to Mr. W. Maxwell Lyte and Mr. Evelyn Wrench, joint Hon. Secretaries of the League, General Buildings, Aldwych, London, W.C. Subscriptions are still being received, and it is proposed to add to the squadron as funds permit. It may be recalled that the Overseas Club is confined to Britons living within the Empire, and their efforts have resulted in the pre sentation of nine aeroplanes to the British Flying Services. New Types of Zeppelins. THE DAILY MAIL correspondent at Vevey, writing on the 30th ult., said another super-Zeppelin has just been launched at Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance. It differs considerably in shape from previous craft. The rear part of the envelope is blunt instead of being pointed. The airship possesses two armoured cabins, con taining small guns, and has three triple-bladed propellers, which give tremendous speed. New Zeppelin Airships. WRITING from the North of France on the 3rd inst., the DAILY CHRONICLE special correspondent said:—It is nearly two months since the Germans were obliged to confess that, whatever the theoretical value of their Zeppelins, they did not come up to military or public expectations. The Germans then had to choose between two alternatives, to give up further Zeppelin raids or to make them more efficacious. in throttling down the engine to the most economical speed, trusting that our altitude and the small supply of petrol in the reserve tank would enable us to reach our own lines. Both my observer and I were so busy watching the petrol gauges that we did not notice that a hostile machine was approaching us from behind and flying at a height of 8,000 ft. It was impossible for us to climb, and to come down would mean being exposed once more to the enemy's tire. I opened the throttle fully to try and escape, but the other machine was already above us. At a distance of a couple of hundred yards both observers opened fire, and a few nerve-racking seconds ensued. XXX " Suddenly the other machine began to sway from side to side, then it turned on its nose and dropped. My observer had hit the hostile pilot. A few minutes later our petrol gave out, the engine stopped, and we com menced to glide down. By keeping the glide as flat as possible I succeeded in just reaching the safety of our own lines, where we promptly landed. I jumped out of the machine, happy at having escaped, and approached to shake hands with my observer, who had, I knew, saved my life by hitting the hostile aviator. But it was not to be. I found him lying motionless in his seat. My best friend and companion was dead ! Such is the fortune of war. We had carried out our mission, however, and done our small share towards helping success to our country." " ^iOLUS." ® ® The first alternative would have hurt their pride too much. It would have been an avowal of their mistake. So they had to look for new and ingenious means of remedying the defects in their immense gasbags. So great was their fear, however, of our naval airmen's expedi tions that they resolved to withdraw their Zeppelins for the time being from Belgium and proceed with the difficult task of improvement. Here are some particulars of what results the Germans have oblained so far. They have slightly increased the ascending power of some types and by providing a greater number of motors have increased the speed by 25 per cent. They have installed an apparatus for the distribution of Hertzian waves, which will enable the operators to control for a distance of two miles the direction of aerial torpedoes. The number of machine guns on the top of the dirigible has been augmented. It seems that they have not been able to achieve any encouraging result in the armouring of the top of the Zeppelin or in the attempt to shape it like a pointed roof so that bombs should fall harmlessly down the sides. They have had to content themselves with adding to the number of interior compartments in the hope of losing as little gas as possible at each breach. To sum up, they have succeeded in creating Zeppelins a little better armed, a little larger, with a little stronger ascending power, a little less vulnerable and considerably more rapid. Brussels Punished for Lost Zeppelin. THE Havre correspondent of the PETIT PARISIEN, writing on the 29th ult., stated that, according to a person who left Brussels on the 10th ult., the Germans have imposed a new fine of ,£200,000 on the city on account of the destruction of a Zeppelin in its shed at Evere just outside Brussels, by Flight Lieut, j. P. Wilson and Flight Sub-Lieut. J. S. Mills in the first week in June. German Airships and Trawlers. ADYICES from Amsterdam last week-end reported that a Dutch trawler on arriving at Ymuiden reported having been held up at sea by a big German airship—" L39," according to one account— which after examining the vessel disappeared. An Aeroplane Chase in Roumania. INFORMATION was received in Paris last Friday from Dedeagatch to the effect that a German aviator had flown over Bucharest and had been chased off by Roumanian pilots. It was stated that the machine, which thus infringed Roumanian neutrality, was at a height of about 1,500 ft. and carried a searchlight. With glasses the black cross on the wings, which is the mark of German war aeroplanes, could be plainly seen. 579
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