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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0887.PDF
Flight, November 19, 1915 J K First Aero Weekly in the World. Founder and Editor : STANLEY SPOONER. A Joureai devoted to the Interest*, Practice, and Prof rest of Aerial Locomotion aai Transport. OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ROYAL AERO CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. No. 360. (No. 47, Vol. VII.)] NOVEMBER 19, 1915. ["Registered at the G.P.O.I L at a Newspaper. J r'eekly. Price 3d. Poet Free, 3rd. w it. Editorial Office; 44, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C. Telegrams; Trnditnr, Westrand, London. Telephone: Gerrard i8a8. Annual Subscription Rates, Post Free. United Kingdom ... 151, od. Abroad 901. od CONTENTS. Editorial Comment: Who Said Party Politics were Dead ? And Mr. Winston Churchill The Roll of Honour Aircraft Work at the Front. Official Information The British Air Services Constructional Details The Royal Aero Club. Official Notices Flying at Hendon From the British Flying Grounds Correspondence. SUPPLEMENT Armchair Reflections. By the " Dreamer " Eddies. By " iEolus " TheR.N.A.S., the Defence of London, &c The WorkoftheR.F.C The " Arrival " of the Aeroplane. By Algernon E. Berriman Aircraft and the War .. Lighter Than Air PAGE . 887 ,. 887 890 8.) • 8<M B94 S»5 896 1-36 897 898 901 003 005 907 907 EDITORIAL COMMENT. • There is a theory around that for Great P^tv0pSrt^ Britain and its Government, politics are for were Dead'?5 the t'me but a buried memory—interned for the period of the War. With a great proportion of the people of our Empire, and in the case of the majority of the leading politicians, there is little doubt that this truce is being honourably observed. A small minority, unfortunately, appear to take the view that the truce is opportune for subtle but vicious attack of those whom they have reason to think may stand in the path in which their ambitions lead them, with the result that all sorts of underhand machinations are at work to upset this or that personage, with little regard to the ultimate welfare of the nation. In this way it comes about that men who have been and whose services still are most invaluable to their country have to sacrifice themselves or be sacrificed so that the wheels of Imperialism may run along without even the semblance of a faulty cog in their periphery. That there have been mistakes and halting by the way, where instant and masterly decision might have had the most far-reaching benefits, there is hardly room to doubt. That any such mistakes would necessarily, under all the outstandingly abnormal conditions, have been avoided by others who might have been called upon to make choice at some highly critical moment is not necessarily a foregone conclusion. Showing how the thing should have been done after an event has worked itself out, or in city parlance "jobbing back," is one of the most popular forms of criticism which the professional seeker after fame has to his hand. And in most cases he does not scruple to utilise his opportunities with the most destructive effect, seldom having himself the germ of an idea so far as constructive criticism might lead a way out of the tangle which it pleases him to hold up to He is satisfied if his thrust gets home, especially scorn. when the surroundings of the incident preclude any real explanation being at the moment given. In some instances official scruples are thrown to wind, an effective counter-stroke is made, plus resignation, and another good man has gone by the board at the instigation of a set of men who probably know little or nothing of the real facts of the case which have led up to the situation. We, who are unconcerned with all these abominable political strategic moves, can only regard such tactics with disgust. There is at least hope, however, that in the days to come, when, the facts as then revealed, full tribute can be paid to those who have endeavoured to uphold the Country's welfare and prestige, the attackers of to-day may be turned into suppliants for re-instatement into public favour for their ill-judged heckling of men of moment whose hands for retaliation have been in the past firmly tied behind their backs by the binding obligations of their office. It is not a matter of single cases. There are, unfortunately, several which have taken effect. Although in somewhat a different category ^5? to this position, we cannot help but deplore And Churchill. the retirement of Mr. Winston Churchill, who has, without doubt, taken this step in protest to the snarlings of the few malcontents who are ever on the alert to upset men in power who in their mind they probably place in the category of rivals to their own fame and advancement. We regret this secession from the Government irrespective of whether Mr. Churchill can be held responsible for any past unfortunate moves in the War or the reverse. He may or may not have judged consequences rightly. Whoever has been responsible matters little now. Any ill results not only have to be n
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