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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0050.PDF
[fjjCHf] Second.—The Defence of London. Third.—The Freedom of the People. And by the Freedom of the People I mean Justice in the broadest sense. Redress for all those trades that have suffered by panic legislation, such as the Liquor trade. Compensation where redress is against the best interests of this Nation at this moment. This is my programme. My opponent cannot take over this programme. He has not been on active service. He is not a practical airman. He is not a fighting man. My opponent can talk to you about these things, but he cannot do them. Attend the meetings. Judge for yourself. Return me for Mile End. Yours faithfully, 4, Elm Court, PEMBERTON-BILLING. Middle Temple, E.C., Jan. 12th, 1916. The preliminary skirmishing between the rival can didates is now in full swing, and the contest will be decided on Tuesday of next week, when we shall hope to acclaim "P.B." as the first elected air M.P. of the country. If he fail to reach the top figure, why, if we know anything of him, he will go on trying elsewhere until he does succeed. In the meantime, it is no slight thing for Pemberton-Billing to have accomplished, the forcing of Mr. Warwick Brookes, the official candidate, into so strong a declaration of his views in regard to supremacy in the air. One of the planks in Mr. Brooke's address is as follows :— " Having regard to the great importance of Air Service (both naval and military), I shall strongly support any measure which has for its object better organisation and further development, so as to place the entire service in the same predominant position that our Navy occupies to-day. In my opinion, no effort or expense should be spared to make London impregnable from aircraft attack." So far good, and we welcome so definite a policy as is herein expressed. But this willingness to " support" such measures as may be brought forward is a very long way away from the spirit which is breathed by Mr. Pemberton-Billing. He is going all out for initiating activity and development of everything likely to help towards British Supremacy in the Air. He has a defined programme which, like a good many others, he is confident should lead to not only better security against air-raids in this country, but ® © Aerial Postal Services in U.S. THE United States Postmaster-General, Mr. Burleson, is evidently in striking contrast to most of Uncle Sam's legislators, as he is deadly in earnest about trying to get to work on an aerial mail service. Although his last proposal was vetoed, his estimates for 1917 include §50,000 for aerial postal routes. In recommending this departure, Mr. Burleson said :—" Postal needs will be served and the science of aviation encouraged by the establishment of an aerial mail service. From time to time experimental tests of the aeroplane as a carrier of the mails have been authorised, necessarily without cost to the department. During the fiscal year 1914 permission was given in four instances for the carriage of mails by this means, whereas application was made and permission granted in eight instances during the fiscal year 1915. "There are sections of the country where this class of service JANUARY 20, 1916. to effective action in bringing a little nearer the end of the war. And it is to this end he intends to exert all that is in him. Mr. Pemberton-Billing does not aspire to be the conventional political M.P.—" To Hell with politics " is his terse summary of the position of the unsavoury occupation of political life, as at present in force. And we agree with him most cordially. If this country is to be sacrificed in this war it will be the accursed " politics " which will be at the bottom of whatever humiliation we have to submit to. The vested interests in the various phases of political life have become so stupendous and intricate that if by means of this war a clean sweep of the putrid conditions, which have grown up in process of the unscrupulous intrigue which attaches to practically everything coming within the sphere of "politics," there may be at least that one result for which we may have to thank the action of the German beast—how ever innocent he may have been of any intention of benefiting this country or its people. In its own way " politics " in this country has become as abomin able a shame and scandal as ever Prussian militarism in the land of its origin. Else should we long since have let the Navy give effect to the real blockade, which the easy-going public have for a year or more been led to believe existed. Bah, this sort of thing leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, and makes one think that Mr. Gibson Bowles is about right when he affirms that " the terror of neutrals is a mere Foreign Office bogy, but that department could not live without a bogy in order to cover its own failures. If left alone the Fleet could make a certainty of the war." That Mr. Pemberton-Billing, if he gets the chance, will do his little bit in Parliament to assist the Flying Services in showing what they can accomplish in a big way, when opportunity is afforded them, we have every confidence. That he is a live man is demonstrated every minute of the day down Mile End way, as any one may judge if they but watch his methods in the district. He has unquestionably made many friends by his earnest ness of purpose and manner, and we wish him every success in his big effort to rouse the "political" ring to its duties to the country so far as the Service of the Air is concerned. Whether other views which may be held by Mr. Pemberton-Billing are founded upon as equally sound a basis, time will show, but it is sufficient for us if he carries out his purpose of fighting for a Supreme Air Service, should he find himself at the top of the poll on Tuesday next. ® ® could be advantageously employed, and therefore the estimates for the fiscal year 1917 include an item of §50,000 to defray the cost of an experimental aerial postal service. This will give a much needed impetus to the development in this country of this very important means of communication. The department has compiled a list of routes on which aerial mail service could be established to material advantage." A Dirigible for the U.S. Navy. IT transpires that the " giant dirigible," which was to be built for the U.S. Navy, is to be 175 feet long and 50 feet diameter. Work on it has been begun at the Navy yard, under the direction of Naval experts. It will be equipped with powerful engines and dynamos, and the armament will include a battery of quick-firers. It is stated that it will carry a score or moie of men, and is designed to make long voyages.
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