FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0798.PDF
I7H3 OCTOBER 22, 1915. opposite to the desired effect would result. We do not doubt but that in good time the British Flying Services and those of our Allies could give a most striking account of themselves in this matter of reprisals, but we cannot help feeling that, in spite of the resolution passed, there are other means of curtailing, if not positively stopping, the enterprise of these air visitors, and that before very long they will be apparent. As to what the feelings of the nation and neutrals would be after the event —i.e., peace—were we to follow the murderous methods of the Germans, we think there cannot be two opinions. So far we have endeavoured to carry out the necessary slaughter of our enemies in as gentlemanly a manner as possible. Let the same tactics prevail until the end—always assuming that that end will be in our favour—it will then be time enough to exact reprisals in the shape of an " eye for an eye " against those personally who have been responsible for the inhuman proceedings and against those who have with evident pleasure carried out their superiors' commands. We have long since advo cated this line of procedure, as also the advisability of letting it be known officially and definitely to those it may concern that this will be the course adopted when the squaring up of accounts takes place. If this does not have the desired effect we hardly think anything else will, and our only plan is to set to work and endeavour to counter the attacks by legitimate means until we can control their tactics within reasonable limits, in like manner to the eliminating precautions which have proved so effectual against submarine depredations. In the meantime, the more legitimate raids upon enemy strongholds we can make, the better. These impress the German High Command in a much greater degree than anything that might be attempted in the way of killing off a few batches of their women and children. The German official mind has got far beyond consideration for such small fry as that. Possibly the real object of the Cannon Street meeting was not after all the passing of the resolution already given above. There was a second resolution put to the meeting towards the end. This was in the name of Mr. Charles Palmer, and gives reason to think furiously as to whether this apparently minor object was not in reality the main one of the meeting. There was such a natural and innocent ring about its wording that in such a gathering it would not be a matter for much concern to get it passed with acclamation. This little ® ® THE ROLL THE Secretary of the Admiralty has announced the following casualties;— Under date October 13 th : Seriously Injured. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Grahame G. Dawson, K.N. Under date October 18th : Slightly Wounded. Temporary Lieut.-Commander John W. Stock?, R.N.V.R. Undated: Previously reported Missing, now reported a Prisoner of War. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Richard C. Tetter, R..N Died. Sergeant W. L. Stone, R.M.A., Anti-Aircraft Biigade. The following casualties in the Expeditionary Force have been reported from General Headquarters:— side issue was to the effect that " this meeting, having regard to the great part which the Air Services are already playing in this war by land and sea, and to their yet much greater possibilities in the immediate future, urges the necessity of the speedy formation of a Ministry of the Air to take complete and independent charge of the naval and military forces of the country." Seconded by Sir George Makgill, this resolution was carried unanimously—no, we're wrong there. With one dissentient, who possibly, after all, may have had very good reasons for his objection. What these were we have not learnt as, when remonstrated with by a member of the audience for his attitude, the meeting was of such a responsible and discriminating character, that they at once fell upon the member of the audience who had tackled the dissentient and promptly ejected him with " reprisals" of an extremely convincing order. What became of the man who did not think so much of that " minister of the air " suggestion, deponent sayeth not— but his views might be worth recording. Reprisals or no reprisals, however, it is to be hoped that Mr. Asquith's views expressed to the house of Commons on Friday are correct that " the service presided over by Sir Percy Scott will deal effectively with any further attempts at indiscriminate destruction of property." Let us hope lives also. Whilst fully recognising the many difficulties in the way of dealing really successfully with the Zeppelin night marauders, we shall be glad to see more definite results from the appointment of Sir Percy Scott, since he has had a more or less free hand. His experience during the last raid should serve him in good stead, and it is to be hoped that his scheme of operations will not be too long in really getting going, so that the visitors may not get off from their future expeditions entirely " Scot" free. The ideal plan for dealing with these airships is with out question to stop them at the coast, with a second barrier somewhere about within a radius of 30 miles of the Metropolis. So many difficulties are present for aeroplanes to get their work in, not forgetting, if they use bombs, the remedy might be as bad as the disease, that those who know that this is the proper method to drive off the German air fleet should lose no time in trans ferring their certain knowledge to the proper quarter. But then many of these armchair experts would be puzzled to explain lucidly the difference between a biplane and a monoplane. ® ® OF HONOUR. Undated: Wounded. Lieutenant A. Somervail, 4th King's Own Scottish Borderers (T.F.), attached R.F.C. Missing. Second Lieutenant H. B. Stubbs, Royal Flying Corps. The following casualty among the Indian Forces has been reported from the Persian Gulf:— Undated: Wounded. Second Lieutenant E. J. Fulton, 1st Lancers, attached R.F.C. The following casualty in the Canadian Continge t with the Expeditionary Force has been reported from General Headquarters:— Missing. Lieutenant U. Leeson, 7th Canadian Infantry Bn., attached R.F.C. 79S
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
