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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0161.PDF
But the practical barrier to aeroplane reprisal raids upon the enemy is that Germany is too remote and too well prepared. She was prepared in her aeroplane defences before the war. Any daylight raids upon Germany must be heavily paid for. Our own defences against day attacks have also been so far improved that the Germans make few attempts and little success attends them. Night Raids on Germany. Night attack by airships is a wholly different affair, and the high-speed airship has obvious advantages, which Germany alone is able to make use of. The war has shown up the limitations of aeroplane and gun defences against night raids, and now the local authorities are ® ® LORD KITCHENER O REPLYING to several criticisms in the Home of Lord- on the 17th in*., Lord Kitchener gave some important information regarding military aviation, anti-airciaft defence, &c. Lord Kitchener said : "I have no de-ire to complain of the manner in which noble Lords have introduced and dealt with this very important subject, but your Lordships will, I am sure, realise that a public debate in Parliament on our system of defence against aircraft cannot but !e fnught with the risk of giving information and assistance to the enemy. These considerations also hamper very seriously any reply in detail to the questions raised, which the Government realise are the natural outcome of ihe general anxiety caused by the dastardly outrages on helpless women and children that have taken place. Something has been said against what is called the gas-bag policy. In the War Office here is no gas-tmg school, and whatever may be the outcome of effots 10 defend this country we shall not be affected by any preconceived notion-. With regard to the Farnborough manufactory, I would like to point out that it is in the closest touch with those serving in ihe field, and that our aeroplanes are not built at Farnborougn except in very small quantities. The specifications are made out theie, aid the work usually given to contractors. There is a constant inter change of information, and every new type of machin-' i- tried in the field. As for moral iniquity, it is fruitless to discuss that feature of German attacks on peaceable citizens It is only f r us to 'ake every possible step to defend 'his ev untrv from the e invasions, to minimise as far as possible their effect, and to indict evety possible punishment on the invaders. We musi, however, be on our guard les> any observations on the subject m .de in Parlia ment or in the Press have the effect of making the ene y be ieve that the moral and material damage which h >s bet n caused by air raids on England has been greater than is actually the case, and 'hus enoiuiage the Germans to repeat these raids. Up to the present, hostile air invasions of England have had no influt nee wha ev r on the military conduct of the war, and, regrettable as ate the loss of citwen life ami the damage to private property. I do not desire 10 give too great importance to these attacks or allow them to affect our military ope ations. I have full confidence that the great courage and coolness hitherto displayed by our p ople w 11 continue undiminished in any future attacks by the > nemy's aircraft on this country, for it must be realised that in war it is not alw ">s pos-ihle to ensure safe y everywhere. Some risks must be accepted in order tojje strong ai the most important point. Hitherto, in regard to aeronautics, the Wa- Office r as been primarily int rested in dealing with the requiremen s of he v rtous theatres of war, and, although I have observ. d that criticism- have been levelled in another place at the air service ai the front, in landers, I can asureyour Lordships that these criticisms a'e un- Jouniled and unmenied. No service in the field ha- in my opinion, oeen more efficient han that of our Flying Corps, directed .s it is hy officers . f tne highest technical capacity and manned by pilots and observer whose skill and courage are unsurpa•» d. It is, how ler, with home d« fence, the resp >n ibility for which has been taken over by the War Office only within the last few dav , that he sitic- are most concerned. I may say at once, as regards Z ppelin attacks, that it is beyond our power to ga .rantee these shores from a rep tition of incursions. But, although »e have only ..ne example of a Zeppelin being destroyed by ae>oplane a'tack—I allude to Lieut. Warneford's gallant action—'here have b- en several <*•*** in which we hive so di-abled the enemy's aircraft at to brieg ""m eventually to the ground, or to render them usc-l-s for further service. During the list raid, while we are sore that one airship •as lost at -ea, we have very good reason to believi thlt a s< cond »as placed out of action. There are three principles which govern busy trying to make provincial towns invisible. This ostrich-like plan of plunging the country into darkness is all very well from the local safety point of view, but it does not suffice as a national policy. The danger is not put an end to, it is merely passed on. The Germans, if they get free entry into England will unload their bombs somewhere. The humiliating thing is that they should be allowed to strike any part of England. Moreover, we must not overlook the point that the Zeppelins carry star shells and searchlights, and these can be use'l to pick out places for attack. As long as we are tied down to the defensive we are at a great disadvantage. We must keep the raiders altogether out of England, and to do that we need high speed airships. ® ® N AERIAL MATTERS. our air defence in this counm : (1) Good information as to the arrival and movements of hostile aircraft ; (2) defence by artillery from the land ; (,) attacks in the air by aeropl mes as moving more rapidly than Zeppelins can travel. As regards the first, a system has been adopted which I am confident will give us sufficient warn ing of the impending arrival and possible movements of airships. " Arrangements have been made with the Post Office so that all local centres will have thorough and timely warning, and, in order to co-ordinate local eff >rt - f r defence, and to take chan e of artillery action and lights, special officers are being appointed at all the principal centre-, whose -ole duty it will be to organise the defences of th- areas entrusted to them. As regards the second point—artillery—owing to our largely increased ordnance requirements there has been great difficulty in securing an adequate supply 1 f anti-aircraft guns, but I may inform your Lordships that the construction of anti-aircraft guns has no* priority over other or 'nance, and as fast as these guns are produced by the Munitions Deoa tment they will be distributed to the l>est advantage throughout the country. Guns, though they can make Zeppelins rise to a heig .t whence obseivalion is probably diffi ult, cannot with am cettainty hit the Zeppelins and thus arrest the dis harge o' the destructive bombs which they carry. This can only be effected by the annihilation of the machine itself. Hence the third principle I h*>e mentioned is an important adjunct of our operations. the attack by aeroplanes at ni^ht is attended by great difficulties, many of which will occur to your Lordship*. Those we believe, with more extended practice, will in a great measure be overcome. One of the most important points affecting the defence of this country, a- well as our operations in the held, is the provision of aeronautical material. Large oiders have been given, and large supplie- have been deUvered, and are becoming available in increa ing qiantit'es But a- flying machines, like artillery, ate an adjunct of both Navy an 1 Army, it has been found advisable to co-ordinate the su ply of engines and machines by the establishment of a Subcommittee of Imperial Defence to deal with the relative rtquirements of the two Services. Your Lordships will, I am sure, agree th.it arrangements for anti-airca't defence are as important as any 1 ther for the service of the countty, and, as in all military undertakings against a vigilant enemy, secrecy i an important facto in ou> calculation- for success. The War Office in the last few days have taken over ihe responsibility f>r home defence, and it will he placed in the hands of Field-Marshal Lord French, who will, I am glad t > say, have the help of Sir Percy Scott as his expert adviser. " The noble I .ord said that the naval men who have charge of the guns in London are being rt moved, but he i< a little mis aken in that. The new Garrison Artillery that h*ve taken over the «uns for the defence of London are for new guns, newly mounted, which do not take the place of naval guns. The men are also selected men, wno have been shooting at enemy aeroplanes at the front. I am glad of this opportunity of Ireing able to assure your Lordihips and the country that the War Office will leave no st° ne unturned in its efforts 10 improve to the mm >st extent our home defence against Zeppelin raids, ad we shall continue to take suci energetic steps in the d velopment of our service in the air as shall enable us to inflict the heaviest penalties n the aggressors. With reference to the statement of the noble Lord oppo-ite about ascension at night, I am informed V at no order has ever been sent to a pilot of the Royal Flying Corps to make a night asce.t for the purpose of attacking a Zeppelin. Notice is given to each station if a Zeppelin is to be intercepted, but the decision as to what should be done is left to the senior officer o 1 the spot, and if he decides that the weather is suitable ne is the first to ascend." I6l
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