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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0692.PDF
f/OGMT] results from the carefully prepared plan ot campaign feverishly worked up for years past, by which the British Empire was to be brought to its downfall, whilst—leaving out the cost—by reports, there would appear to be more than a doubt as to all the craft reaching home again as safely and peacefully as is officially claimed (per German wireless) or as might be desired by their instigators. As to the localities visited (again per German wire less)—well, that's another matter altogether. But as it emerges from our Admiralty's official communications that London has been reached, there is, perhaps, no harm in suggesting that it has been rumoured that a good deal of guidance is given to the marauders by certain railway systems through the medium of their lighted carriages and engine " emissions." Possibly some method might be evolved to " screen" these said " emissions." As to the carriage illuminations, there can be no excuse. No difficulty exists in this direction which should not be quickly remedied by " Defence of the Realm Act" notification. Perhaps the authorities will oblige in this direction besides making special provision for cutting off the invaders, en route. Regarding precautions against the dropping of the bombs, it is well that areminder has been given for irrespon- sibleipeople not to interfere with the lighting arrangements of the streets, which may lead to worse calamities. Leave that to the authorities. The disseminator of wild and ridiculous rumours should be duly honoured by notice from another of the authorities. To cause needless alarm by helping to spread false accounts of damage supposed to have been done, is the act of a lunatic or a friend of the enemy. Moreover, it is an offence under the Defence of the Realm Act which states that " no ® ® The Roll of Honour. THE Secretary of the Admiralty has announced the following casualties:— Under date September 4th (Expeditionary Force): Injured. Flight-Commander James W. O. Dalgleish, R.N. Under date September 8th: Killed. Flight Sub Lieutenant Gerald W. Milliard, R.N. Undated : Wounded. Driver A. S. Clark and Gunner B. O. Webb, both R.M.A. Anti-Aircraft Brigade. The following casualties in the Expeditionary Force have been reported from General Headquarters:— Under date September 2nd: Died of Wounds. Capt. J. A. Liddell, V.C., Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 3rd Batt., attached R.F.C. ® ® The Defences of London. IN reply to questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Dr. Macnamara, Secretary to the Admiralty, said that no decision had yet been arrived at with regard to the suggested transference of the Anti-Aircraft (London) Corps from the Admiralty to the War Office. Admiral Sir Percy Scott had been appointed by the Admiralty to take charge of the aerial defence of London, and had already taken up his duties. In reply to further questions, Dr. Macnamara said that Sir Percy Scott had been appointed by the Admiralty, and for the time being, at any rate, this service was under the Admiralty. la the House of Lords on Tuesday, Lord Strachie had given notice of his intention to ask the Secretary for War whether the result of the Zeppelin raids on London last week were not a proof SEPTEMBER 17, 1915. person shall by word of mouth or in writing spread reports likely to create alarm among any of the civilian population." As to the procedure when information comes to hand of the approach of Zeppelins, the method adopted by the Vice-Lieutenant for Herts—The Earl of Essex —to counter any possible damage to the district during an air-raid has in some respects much to com mend it, and might be favourably considered by other bodies in authority. The Special Air-Raid Com mittee, of which the Earl is chairman, besides issuing the usual notifications from certain official sources as to stampeding for the nearest cellar or ditch when a Zeppelin visit is anticipated, have organised matters for their district, embracing arrangements for public lights to be reduced or extinguished immediately reliable infor mation is received that hostile aircraft are in the vicinity. In a notice issued by this Central Organising Committee the following further advice is given— " Members of the public are requested to turn off all taps and switches, and take other necessary precautions for safety immediately it comes to their knowledge, either by the sounding of warning blasts on a syren, the ringing of bells, or the sudden reduction or extinction of public lights, that hostile aircraft is in the neighbourhood. Care should then be taken to prevent any light in a house being visible from outside." The suggested multiplication of warning sounds seems somewhat weird, and might with advantage, we think, be modified, as irrespective of the din which would arise, giving very audible guidance to the air-pirates up above, such a multiplicity of sounds might easily lead to con fusion amongst those for whose benefit the hullabaloo had been set going. ® ® Missing. Second Lieutenant E. R. C. Scholefield, Royal Flying Corps. Captain F. J. C. Wilson, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 6th Batt. (T.F.), attached R.F.C. Under date September 6th : Wounded. Lieutenant C. A. Ridley, Royal Fusiliers, attached R.F.C. Missing. Captain W. C. Adamson, Royal Flying Corps. The following casualty in the Indian Forces has been reported from General Headquarters :— Missing. Lieutenant E. C. Braddyll, 10th Lancers, attached R.F.C. It has been unofficially announced that Flight- Lieutenant David Keith-Johnston, R.N.A.S., was killed in action at Ostende on August 10th, and that his brother—Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant Macfie Keith-Johnston—was accidentally killed at Eastchurch on September 12th. ® ® that anti-aircraft guns were of little use against aerial attack; and whether the establishment of a landing place for our aircraft on the south side of Hyde Park was not desirable, so that we might follow the methods adopted so successfully in Paris by patrolling regularly the London skies, and by posting other aircraft in Hyde Park in readiness to fly should the approach of Zeppelins be signalled. The noble Lord said he had been a?ked by the Civil Lord of the Admiralty to post pone the question. He quite understood the reason for postponing the question because, in view of the announcement made in that day's papers, it was evident that the intention was to reorganise the whole of the precautions against air raid. He hoped that later on the Government would make a statement which would answer the suppositions in his question. The Duke of Devonshire (Civil Lord of the Admiralty) said if it was possible he would make a statement upon the subject later on. 2
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